Man Killed By Fed-EX Truck Last Night
A Fed-EX driver was unable to stop after 47-year-old Gordon Solley Jr., attempted to cross Route 66/28 in front of Staley’s Motel last night. Solley was killed instantly. (Photo by Chris Smith)
A man was killed last night by a tractor trailer truck as he attempted to walk across the road around 10PM.
Gordon Thomas Solley Jr., 47, who was residing at Staley’s Motel in Rayburn Township, left the bar located along Route 28/66 and was crossing the highway en route back to the motel. He walked out in front of a tandem Federal Express tractor trailer driven by Kevin Raible from Gibsonia.
According to unidentified eyewitnesses at the scene, Raible applied the brakes but was unable to stop before hitting Solley. The smell of burnt brakes could still be smelled at the scene an hour later. Skid marks laid down from Staley Court Road to the entrance of the restaurant/motel parking lot showed the driver’s attempt to stop his rig as he was traveling north from Kittanning.
Solley was pronounced dead at the scene by Assistant Coroner Al Thomas from blunt force trauma.
The accident closed Route 28/66 from 10PM until 2AM. The Pennsylvania State Police performed measurements and examined the truck. According to State Police, routine toxicology tests were performed on Raible following the accident.
A representative from Fed-Ex that was on the scene declined an interview and referred all inquiries to their main office.
Rayburn Township Volunteer Fire crews assisted police with traffic detours onto McGregor Road and then back onto Route 66/28.
Local News | KP NewsDesk March 10, 2010
By agirl, March 10, 2010 @ 10:12 AM
Man Killed by Fedex Truck, when one reads this heading you automatically think FedEx is at fault. A good columnist would have a title not implying this such as, “FedEx driver not a fault for fatal accident”. Yes it was horrible but dont put assumptions in peoples minds by using a title such as the one in this article.
By JMPC, March 10, 2010 @ 1:00 PM
agirl,
May not be the greatest headline ever written, and I see your point. But to give Kittanning Paper props, this story has been posted for several hours and leadertimes.com has NOTHING. I have to give credit where credit is due.
By Scoop, March 10, 2010 @ 3:43 PM
so what difference does it make what time the stories get posted online?
The Leader Times was there and has a story in today’s paper too.
You make it sound like they ignored it…
By JMPC, March 10, 2010 @ 8:00 PM
Scoop,
I didn’t indicate that The Leader Times would ignore the story, but I don’t see why they couldn’t get it posted on their website in a more timely fashion. Not trashing the Leader Times, just giving credit to the paper who had the scoop, Scoop
By Sapharina, March 10, 2010 @ 10:54 PM
To agirl and anyone else who agrees with her….No matter the headlines…no matter who ran with the story first….no matter who’s fault it is…or who’s to blame….this man died a horrible death and his family is deeply saddened. I am sure that the fedex driver would change it all if he could. But, the family that is saddened happens to be my family. He was my brother inlaw. Could you possibly show some remorse and let us atleast get him buried before you argue about how the headline was written? Come on, show some kindness. This is a bad situation for everyone affected.