Two people died in a one-vehicle crash on July 25, 2026, along Beacon Road in Penn Township. Submitted Photo

The driver in a fatal July 25 one-vehicle crash along Beacon Road in Penn Township was speeding and “had been drinking,“ according to a police report obtained by the Butler Eagle.

The report details the crash that claimed the lives of the driver, Cody L. Huffman, 38, of Harmony, and passenger, T.V. Garrett Griffin, 45, of Cranberry Township, in late July.

In the report, police list three “driver actions” related to the crash: Speeding, over/under compensation at a curve and physical condition, which is described as “had been drinking.” The report indicates alcohol usage was suspected.

Huffman was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Beacon Road. His passenger, Griffin was cut from the vehicle, but died a short time later, Penn Township police said in the report.

According to the document, Huffman was driving his white, 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser west through a left curve in the road at 7:09 p.m. when it drifted off the right side of the road, went through some grass at a slight right angle and went straight into a tree near 168 Beacon Road, about 400 feet from Beacon Light Road.

Police noted in the report that there was no evidence of the vehicle braking or slowing down, and due to the extent of the damages, appears that it struck the tree at a high rate of speed.

Traveling an estimated 60 mph in a 35 mph speed limit zone, the SUV hit the tree head on at its 12 o’clock position, according to the report. The SUV was not driveable and was towed.

The front end of the vehicle was smoking and on fire when police arrived at 7:13 p.m. An officer and bystanders attempted to put out the fire using small fire extinguishers that were on hand, but were not able to extinguish the flames enough to safely remove the unconscious driver, according to the report.

The Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire before Butler Ambulance Service crews arrived and pronounced Huffman dead, according to the report.

The document said Griffin was trapped in the vehicle. The fire department cut the vehicle open and removed him, but police were informed he succumbed to his injuries while being taken to Butler Memorial Hospital or shortly after arriving, the report said.

The crash occurred during daylight in clear weather on a dry, level road surface. Both men were wearing seat belts, and the vehicle’s air bags deployed, according to the report.

Both lanes of the road were closed due to the crash, requiring traffic to be detoured, until 9:20 p.m.