Trucker fell asleep before York County crash that killed 3 construction workers

The driver of a box truck fell asleep at the wheel before he struck and killed three construction workers who were making repairs on I- 83 last month in York County, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

The fatal crash occurred when a box truck, driven by a 24-year-old man, was entering an active construction zone while traveling southbound on I-83 near mile marker 35.5 on April 17 about 3:25 a.m. in Fairview Township.

Police said he was traveling at a rate of speed “greater than what would be considered, reasonable and prudent” when he fell asleep and crashed into the construction site, causing him to hit the rear end of a construction vehicle positioned in the right lane, according to state police.

Following the impact of the construction vehicle, the box truck veered onto the southbound shoulder where he struck three construction workers who were making repairs on a crack-sealing project on I-83 from the Maryland border to exit 40 toward Limekiln Road.

After hitting the three construction workers, he continued up a grass embankment, and sideswiped the passenger side, roof, and mirror of another vehicle before veering back onto the highway, according to police.

The box truck came to a rest after striking a concrete barrier that separates the southbound and northbound lanes of travel, police said.

The three men – Jesse McKenzie, 24, of Somerset; Robert Hampe, 41, of Meyersdale; and Philson Hinebaugh III, 24, of Johnstown, were construction workers for the Somerset-based CriLon Corp. They were pronounced dead at the scene at 4:49 a.m. and 4:52 a.m., according to the York County Coroner’s office.

The driver of the box truck was not injured in the crash, police said. The box truck sustained damage as result of the crash and was towed from the scene.