A 22-year-old Slippery Rock University student was on his way back to the college when he died in a multi-vehicle crash Thursday, Jan. 15, in Mercer County.

Austin M. Golab, of Erie, died of blunt force trauma to the head and chest from the crash near mile marker 122 on I-79 south in Jackson Township, Mercer County, the county’s Coroner John Libonati said.

The crash occurred around 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 15. State police said a semitruck was stopped in the right lane due to stopped traffic on the snow-covered roads when another semitruck rear-ended it and stopped in the left lane. Golab’s vehicle then struck the rear of the second semi.

A passenger in the second semi was transported to the hospital for unknown injuries.

Golab was studying cybersecurity at SRU was employed at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie in the dietary department, according to his obituary.

He was a 2022 graduate of Cathedral Preparatory School. He had also been deployed to Kenya for the United States National Guard and was the weapons team lead for Blacksheep Company, 1st Platoon.

Friends may be received Friday at Kloecker Funeral Home and Crematory in Erie from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.