2 injured in Washington Township crash involving pickup, car, transit bus

Two drivers were injured in a three-vehicle crash involving a Westmoreland County Transit Authority bus Monday afternoon on Route 66 in Washington Township.

The bus, which was not a full-size model, was empty of passengers when it was rear-ended in a chain-reaction collision shortly before 5 p.m., according to Clayton Murphy, chief of Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. Murphy said the bus had moderate rear-end damage and was driven from the scene near the intersection of Mamont Drive. The driver declined further treatment after being checked by medics.

The drivers of the two other involved vehicles — a man in a pickup and a woman in a car — were taken by ambulance for hospital treatment, Murphy said. He said the man suffered injuries to his extremities and the woman complained of pain.

The pickup and car both had to be towed.

The crash occurred as the bus was in a line of southbound vehicles behind a motorist who was waiting to turn left onto Mamont, a short distance south of the point where Route 66 changes from four lanes to two lanes, Murphy said. The pickup crashed into the rear of the car, pushing it into the bus, he said.

Traffic on Route 66 was backed up as firefighters directed motorists around the crash.

Firefighters were at the scene for about an hour.

“There were some fluid spills that had to be cleaned up, and there was a large debris field with various parts of the vehicles,” Murphy said.

Washington Township police were investigating the crash.