Police investigate crash that closed turnpike between Monroeville, Allegheny Valley

State police are investigating a tractor-trailer crash that closed the westbound side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Monroeville and Allegheny Valley exits early Thursday morning, halting traffic and forcing drivers to take detours.

A FedEx truck towing two trailers lost control and flipped onto its side about 4:40 a.m. near milepost 49, state police said, blocking both westbound lanes and sending thousands of vehicles off the turnpike through Monroeville, Penn Hills and Oakmont.

State police said FedEx driver David T. Hufford, 44, of Rootstown, Ohio, lost control of the truck while rounding a downhill curve in heavy rain. The truck struck the guardrail on the right side of the road, went left across both lanes, struck the median barrier and toppled.

Hufford was not injured, and any charges were still pending, police said.

By 7:30 a.m., traffic was moving in the left lane past the wreck, and both lanes reopened by 11:30 a.m., said turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo.

Traffic was heavier than usual on I-376 westbound from Monroeville into Pittsburgh as commuters sought alternate routes.

There was a miles-long traffic jam from the Hulton Bridge into Penn Hills as much of the detoured traffic from the Monroeville interchange attempted to reach the Allegheny Valley interchange.

Sean Boltey, co-owner of J.J. Boltey Tire on Hulton Road, said it seemed to take a long time for crews to clean up the wreck.

“I went down at about 10 to 7 and saw it ... then I went to work at 20 to 9, and it was still there,” he said. “I'm glad the driver wasn't killed or anything.”

Traffic on Hulton took until about 11:30 a.m. to return to normal, Boltey said.

Matthew Santoni is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5625 or msantoni@tribweb.com.