Trooper struck on icy road in Butler County identified
A state trooper had her foot run over by a vehicle on Dec. 29 while assisting a motorist who was stuck on Interstate 79 in Muddy Creek Township, state police said Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Trooper Hailee C. McCandless, 27, parked her Dodge Durango patrol vehicle on the right berm of exit 99 northbound to assist Christy Castillo, whose 2008 Chrysler Town & Country was disabled after hitting a patch of ice and sliding into a ditch.
As McCandless was assisting Castillo, a Ram 1500 pickup truck came around the bend. Its driver, Justis R. Stanbro, 22, of Erie, lost control and slid into the back passenger side of McCandless’ vehicle.
Police said McCandless was standing on the passenger side of her vehicle and was knocked down by the impact. The Ram 1500 then ran over her left foot, causing a suspected serious injury. McCandless was taken to Allegheny General Hospital.
Police said the Dodge Durango was pushed forward about 20 feet before it stopped. The Ram 1500 stopped after sliding off the east berm.
Stanbro and passenger Abigail P. Rexford, 21, of Erie, were not injured.
