A two-vehicle head-on collision took the life of a 41-year-old Port Matilda man in Warriors Mark Township yesterday morning.
The accident happened at 11:30 on State Route 350 (Warriors Mark Path) about a mile south of the village towards Seven Stars. Timmy Zimmerman died after he was ejected from his car after colliding with a tri-axle dump truck.
Zimmerman was northbound and was negotiating a right hand curve when the truck was entering the same curve. Huntingdon-based state police said Zimmerman had gone partially into the southbound lane for unknown reasons.
The dump truck owner and operator, Paul Wilson of Curwensville, tried to avoid hitting Zimmerman’s car but could not avoid it. Police said the vehicles hit each other in an “offset” head-on collision. The driver side of the front of each vehicle hit the other.
Zimmerman’s vehicle remained at the point of impact, while the dump truck continued south for a short distance. Zimmerman was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.
Police said it was unknown if Zimmerman was wearing a seat belt. Huntingdon County Coroner Ron Morder arrived at the scene at about 12:15 p.m. and pronounced Zimmerman dead a short time later. Wilson was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.
Zimmerman’s vehicle was totaled while the dump truck had moderate damage.
Traffic was detoured around the scene for about an hour-and-a-half with a roadblock set up in at the intersection State Route 350 and 550 in the village.
At least three state troopers were on the scene to investigate the accident and state police motor carrier enforcement units were called to the location. The investigators were able to determine the dump truck was in good operating condition.
Yesterday’s accident was the third in 10 days to claim a life in northern Huntingdon County.
An April 9 ATV-accident in Warriors Mark claimed the life of 17-year-old Tylor Reese. Police listed that incident as a non-traffic accidental death since it happened on a private road.
An April 14 accident in Franklin Township killed 18-year-old Sharon Reed of Warriors Mark.
As emergency crews went about their duties, an EMS worker commented that while he never gets used to seeing a fatality, “You get numb to it.”
In addition to state police, the motor enforcement team, the township’s fire police and the coroner, Warriors Mark-Franklin Fire Department Engine 22 responded to the scene. AMED and a fire company rescue unit were also on hand.
