HARTLEY TOWNSHIP - A Bellefonte man was killed Sunday morning in a tanker truck crash on Route 45 in this Union County township.
State police at Milton report Raymond R. Coursen, 63, of Pebble Lane, Bellefonte, was pronounced dead at 12:25 p.m. after suffering a severe head and neck injury in the 11:09 a.m. crash near Paddy Mountain Road.
Police said Coursen was traveling east on Route 45 in a 2010 Freightliner truck hauling a tanker of milk. As he made a left hand turn, the left side tires on the tanker lifted off the road.
When Coursen attempted to regain control, the tanker leaned to the left and rolled onto the driver's side, taking the Freightliner with it. The vehicle then slid across the westbound lane, on its driver's side. The top of the driver's compartment struck an embankment on the north side of the roadway, according to police.
Police said Coursen was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but there were no airbags in the truck.
The investigation continues. Police were assisted at the scene by members of the Mifflinburg Fire Company and Fire Police.