COAL RUN - A 61-year-old man from Coal Run died Sunday night after he was struck by a fire truck while he was crossing the road to retrieve a garbage can that had been blown by the wind.
John G. Bogdanski was pronounced dead 11:05 p.m. at Latrobe Area Hospital, Westmoreland County Coroner Dennis Johns said this morning. Johns said an autopsy is scheduled for later today.
According to state police from Indiana, the accident happened about 9 p.m., in the middle of a heavy rain storm.
Bogdanski crossed state Route 3029, which is known as Coal Run Road, to retrieve a trash can. He picked up the can and started back across the road, police reported.
It was then that he was hit by a 1978 Ford 900 fire truck from the Coal Run Volunteer Fire Department. The truck was driven by Michael Veshinfsky, 44, assistant chief for the fire department.
Coal Run's fire personnel were on route to a call concerning downed power wires along Coal Run Road.
Police reported that the truck's emergency lights were turned on at the time of the accident.
Coal Run fire chief Tim Stewart did not have any comment this morning.
"I don't know what happened overnight," Stewart said.
Arrangements are being handled by Bowser-Minich Funeral Home in Indiana. An obituary will appear in Tuesday's Gazette.