Altoona man killed in freightliner crash on Port Matilda Mountain

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — State police say one person was killed in a morning crash on Route 322 on Port Matilda Mountain Tuesday.

Troopers say the crash happened around 7:30 a.m. in Rush Township and Route 322 was shut down as authorities investigated.

According to a state police crash report, a freightliner was traveling west near Thompson’s Curve when the driver tried to negotiate a turn, lost control and slid into the opposing lane, crashing into a BMW.

Troopers say both vehicles went off the road and crashed into an unoccupied, legally parked vehicle.

The driver of the BMW, 49-year-old Joseph Heath, was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers say.

The driver of the freightliner wasn’t injured and is facing charges related to driving a vehicle at a safe speed, authorities say.

Route 322 was reopened around 1 p.m.

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