A Butler man is dead following a crash with an on-duty Pennsylvania State Police officer from the Butler barracks.
47-year-old Joseph Hufnagel died yesterday morning when he was traveling east on Route 228 in Middlesex Township and failed to negotiate a right curve in the roadway. His 1996 Toyota Tacoma pickup traveled over the double center yellow line and into the westbound lane in the path of the State Police Ford Explorer SUV.
Following the impact of the two vehicles, Hufnagel was not wearing a seatbelt and was fully ejected from the vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred approximately 1 mile west of Route 8.
Police have withheld the name of the officer; however, Corporal Brandt stated in a news release that the trooper was transported to Butler Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.
An investigation is ongoing to determine if speed or the use of a cell phone was a factor in the collision.