EXPORT, Pa. --
Firefighters and paramedics were at the scene of a crash involving an explosion Monday morning on Route 22 in Export, Westmoreland County.
According to police, a tractor-trailer plowed into a sport utility vehicle and two other vehicles at about 10:15 a.m. outside Rick's Sports Bar, leaving thick, black burn marks on the highway.
Police said a truck fire down the road from the collision early Monday morning is what brought traffic to a standstill.
"The collisions caused a hole in the driver's-side saddle tank of the truck," said Assistant Chief Bill Wright of Westmoreland County hazmat. "We had to pump off the saddle tank and remove fuel form the scene."
The driver of the SUV was killed in the crash, police said. Drivers and passengers in the three other cars walked away with only minor injuries, authorities said.
According to police, the driver of the tractor-trailer suffered only minor injuries.
Route 22 is shut down between Cozy Inn Cutoff and Harrison City Road while the crash is being investigated.
Jeff Backner, a business owner on Route 22, said he was sickened by the tragedy.
Backner said many accidents happen on the same stretch of road.
"This is utterly ridiculous," said Backner. "My condolences and heart goes out to the family."
As is standard practice, police said the driver of the tractor-trailer was taken for drug and alcohol testing.
"The tractor-trailer failed to stop for traffic and subsequently ran into the stopped vehicle," said Chief Tom Seefeld of the Murrysville Police Department.
Police said the driver of the tractor-trailer could face charges.
