An Ohio man died in a multiple vehicle accident this morning about an hour east of Erie, Pennsylvania. The accident took place in Lafayette Township on Route 219 in McKean County. The accident involved a minivan and a tractor trailer.

The 48-year-old man from Jewett, Ohio was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. He was driving a 2003 Chrysler Voyager minivan south on Route 219 around 4 a.m. when his vehicle crossed the center line. He was struck head-on by a commercial tractor trailer. State Police from the Kane station say that the man swerved directly into the northbound headed Freightliner tractor trailer and likely died on impact. 

The passenger, a 37-year-old man also from Jewett, was Life Flighted to UPMC Hamot Emergency Care Center in Kane, PA. The man's condition was not available shortly after the accident and is still unknown. State police did say that the driver of the Freightliner was not injured in the accident.

Police are not yet sure what the exact cause of the accident was, and would not comment whether alcohol was involved or if they thought the driver fell asleep at the wheel. With the amount of snow northwest PA has received over the past week, it is also possible that the driver may have hit a patch of ice.

The inclement regional weather has led to other similar accidents that have been reported around Erie and throughout the tri-state area. If you're out and driving, please be careful. Make sure you have had enough rest and that your windows are clear of snow, debris, and dirt so that you have optimum sightlines ahead and at your periphery.

Source: GoErie.com, "Ohio man killed in McKean County crash" 19 December 2013