Young woman killed in accident
HOVEY TWP, Armstrong County — An icy road might have been a factor in a collision between a car and tanker truck Tuesday morning that killed a woman just north of the Butler County line, authorities said.
Billie Paige Edwards, 19, of Boyers died from injuries sustained in the crash that occurred around 7 a.m. on North Riverview Drive, also known as Route 268, between Emlenton and Foxburg in Hovey Township, Armstrong County.
The wreck closed the road for at least five hours while state police accident reconstruction specialists from Butler investigated.
Edwards was northbound on Route 268 when she lost control of her 2004 Honda Accord after traveling over an icy spot, investigators said.
The car collided with the back of a 2019 Cascadia Freightliner tanker truck, driven by Richard Bauer, 49, of Menands, N.Y., that was headed south on the road.
“The road was definitely icy,” said Barry Louise, assistant chief of the Emlenton Volunteer Fire Department.
The crash left the woman unconscious and pinned in her car. She was extricated and taken by Emlenton Ambulance to Grove City Medical Center, but later died.
Karns City Regional Ambulance staff examined the truck driver at the scene for possible minor injuries.
Volunteer firefighters from Parker and St. Petersburg and PennDOT crews from Butler and Venango counties were called to assist.
Edwards was a Moniteau High School graduate, and she worked at the Emlenton Truck Plaza and at Subway.
Ed Schmader, general manager of the plaza, said the death has sent a shock wave through his staff and customers alike.
“I had people calling in all day giving me their condolences. She was just one of those people that kept you upbeat,” Schmader said.
Schmader said Edwards was a good waitress, who he even trusted with some training responsibilities.
He said Edwards had a way to raise people up.
“She was a joy. She brought everybody a smile, and she had everybody upbeat,” Schmader said.
Just as the Emlenton VFD was preparing to leave the scene, firefighters were called to a one-vehicle rollover accident on Richey Run Road, also known as Route 38/208, in Emlenton.
State police blamed icy road conditions for that crash around 8:30 a.m.
Mikayla L. Markle 22, of Franklin was traveling east around a curve when her GMC Sierra pickup truck “hit a large patch of ice,” according to a police report.
The truck went off the southern side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled onto its driver's side. Markle was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.
