ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP -- Speed may have played a part in the death of a South Park teen killed on Route 51, early Thursday morning.
Mario Valdiserri, 19, was killed when his truck struck a utility pole in the 1000 block of Hayden Boulevard -- which is also state Route 51 -- near Tom's Body Shop at 1 a.m., police reported.
A witness told police they estimated that Valdiserri's truck was traveling about 70 miles an hour in the 40 mph zone at the time of the accident.
Valdiserri lost control of the truck, which exited the roadway, reentered the highway and then exited again, police reported. The truck sheered a telephone pole, causing the vehicle to flip onto its side, partially ejecting the driver, police reported.
Elizabeth Township, Elizabeth Borough and Forward Township police, Blaine Hill and Central fire companies as well as Elizabeth Township emergency Medical Service personnel responded to the scene of the accident.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office said an autopsy will be conducted today to determine the cause of death.
