Driver killed when airborne deer goes through windshield in Butler County
A deer hit by one vehicle on a Butler County road Sunday went airborne and through the windshield of another vehicle, killing its driver, according to state police.
The crash happened shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday on Route 68 in Connoquenessing.
State police said Anthony McCoppin, 53, of Blawnox was traveling east in a 1969 Mercury Marauder when he hit a deer, causing the animal to go airborne directly into the path of a westbound 2008 Saturn Vue driven by Michael Modjallal, 73, of Akron, Ohio.
The deer hit the upper windshield area of Modjallal’s SUV and entered the passenger compartment, causing fatal injuries to Modjallal.
A passenger, Lucia Modjallal, 70, of Akron, was taken by ambulance to Butler Memorial Hospital with injuries of unknown severity, police said.
McCoppin was not hurt, police said.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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