Names of badly injured passengers of sanitation truck released
BUTLER TWP — Police identified the two passengers who were badly injured Friday afternoon when a sanitation truck crashed and overturned on McCalmont Road. Thomas Goessling, 52, of Gibsonia, who was driving the truck, died in the roll over wreck about 2 p.m. The passengers were Lisa Darrah, 42, of West Deer Township and Samuel Russo, 44, of Sharpsburg, both of Allegheny County, according to a police report Saturday. Both passengers were flown by medical helicopters to Pittsburgh hospitals. Russo remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, police said. Following surgery, Darrah is in serious condition. Goessling, who was thrown out of the truck, was pronounced dead of chest injuries, according to the Butler County Coroner's office. He was not wearing a seat belt, investigators said. Goessling apparently lost control of the truck while rounding a bend after crossing the B&O Railroad tracks. The truck went off the road and overturned on a hillside. Darrah was partially thrown from the vehicle, police said. Russo was trapped under a seat. Police said neither passenger was wearing a seat belt. South Butler volunteer firefighters had to use rescue baskets to hoist them from the hillside. Internet records identified Darrah as the owner of A-Action Sanitation. Police Chief Gary Garman said investigators inspected the truck to determine if any mechanical problems could have contributed to the crash. That report is incomplete. An accident reconstruction report is pending.
