At around 1:18 a.m. this Sunday in Findlay Township, Pennsylvania, tragedy struck when 26-year-old Summer Cartrette of Aliquippa was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of I‑376 (commonly called the Parkway West) near mile marker 54 and collided head-on with another vehicle.
Emergency crews responded swiftly to the scene near the interchange serving Pittsburgh International Airport, where investigators say Cartrette’s vehicle — a Toyota Camry — crashed into the opposing vehicle, then continued east before coming to rest in the center median. She was transported to area hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The driver and a passenger from the other vehicle were also admitted to hospital with injuries, though authorities have not yet released further details on the severity of their conditions. A section of the Parkway West was shut down for about four hours while the Pennsylvania State Police completed crash investigation and cleared the scene.
Troopers are yet to determine what led Cartrette to enter the wrong-way lanes and cause the head-on collision. The investigation is ongoing.
Friends and family are left grappling with the sudden loss of a young life. This incident serves as a stark reminder of how one unfortunate decision behind the wheel can lead to irreversible consequences for not just one person, but multiple lives.
Authorities urge drivers to be vigilant, especially at night, and to heed signs and lane markings carefully. They also encourage anyone with information about the crash to come forward to assist the investigation.
In the midst of this sorrow, Summer’s community in Aliquippa mourns a promising life cut short and the ripple effect of a single moment of wrong-way driving.