Oct 26, 2024 By Paul Paterra 2 min read

A vehicle accident late Friday night on Route 19 in North Strabane Township claimed the life of a man from Oakdale (Allegheny County).

The Washington County Coroner’s office identified the victim as Michael K. Fayad, 51.

According to the coroner’s report, Fayad was the operator of a vehicle waiting to turn left from Washington Road (Route 19) north onto Demar Boulevard.

Shortly after 11 p.m. another vehicle traveling north crossed from the travel lanes into the turning lane at a high rate of speed, striking the rear of Fayad’s vehicle while he was stopped at the light.

“It was a chain reaction accident where one vehicle was pushed into oncoming traffic,” said Rich Yosi, North Strabane fire chief.

The impact pushed Fayad’s vehicle into a third vehicle. He was wearing a seatbelt.

Fayad was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:25 a.m. Saturday.

Yosi said there were five or six occupants in the vehicles involved in the accident. The other person in Fayad’s vehicle was taken to Allegheny General Hospital. One person was flown from the scene.

“All occupants were evaluated,” Yosi said. “After that, from our side it was basically cleaning up the debris and fluids. The rest was handled by the police as far as the investigation is concerned.”

The accident is under investigation by the North Strabane Township Police Department.

Yosi said the road had to be closed for about four to five hours.

The cause of death is pending an autopsy and the manner of death is under investigation. Assisting the North Strabane Fire Department Responding at the scene were Ambulance and Chair Service, Canonsburg Ambulance, Lifeflight, South Strabane Fire Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police collision reconstruction unit.