Truck's engine compartment catches fire in Rt. 422 crash
BUTLER TWP — A fiery crash slowed traffic on Route 422 during the Friday morning commute, but no one was injured.
Butler Township police said Roger Seybert, 51, of Karns City was traveling west just past Route 68 about 7:30 a.m. when he lost control of his Chevy pickup truck due to ice on the bridge.
The truck slid head-on into a cement barrier and the engine compartment caught fire.
Volunteer firefighters from all three township fire stations and the Butler Fire Department were called, according to Steve Bicehouse, the county's director of emergency services.
The initial 911 call that reported “multi vehicles” were involved proved erroneous.
City firefighters were first to arrive and saw that Seybert had gotten out of his pickup unscathed.
“After we were on scene,” said Lt. Donald Crawford of the Butler Fire Department, “the fire took off. It started rolling up under the hood.”
Crews used compressed air foam to quickly snuff out the fire, confining it to the engine compartment.
The truck, which ended up in the left lane facing east, was badly damaged from the crash and fire, and had to be towed.
Crawford said the bridge was icy, and a PennDOT truck was called in to treat the road with salt.
Westbound traffic was slow-going following the accident, but continued moving using the right lane.
