Three injured in leap from I-79 overpass

Three injured in leap from I-79 overpass

Two Waynesburg University senior nursing students were on their way to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., early Monday for advanced training when they came across an accident shortly after 6 a.m. on Interstate 79 in Perry Township, according to the Observer-Reporter newspaper in Washington, Pa.

Little did the women know that within minutes, both would be patients in the hospital, seriously injured when they had to jump to safety to avoid being hit by an oncoming tractor-trailer.

Alyssa Boyle, 22, of Salem, Ohio, was in critical condition and Cami Abernerthy, 21, of Sewickly, in serious condition at Ruby Memorial.

Pennylvania State police said Derek Hartzog, 21, of Washington, was traveling south when he apparently fell asleep. His Jeep Cherokee rolled over several times before coming to rest in the left lane in the middle of an overpass, the newspaper reported.

Boyle and Abernethy had stopped to render assistance, but the three were forced to jump over the edge of the overpass to avoid being hit by the truck.

Police said the three fell approximately 40 to 50 feet to the ground.

Hartzog also was listed in serious condition late Monday.

Boyle and Abernethy were scheduled at Ruby Memorial for clinicals.

For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com