Police Identify Woman in Fiery Turnpike Crash

State police have identified the Beaver County woman inear mile marker 22 in Cranberry Friday night.

Hope Ann Wojtasiak, 46, of Koppel, was driving in the westbound lanes of the highway at about midnight when she lost control of the SUV she was driving, according to state police at Gibsonia.

The vehicle rolled over a couple of times before coming to a rest on its wheels in the right lane, police said. Bystanders were able to put out most of the flames in the vehicle’s front end using fire extinguishers before arrived on the scene.

Fire chief Brian Kovac said the fire did not burn Wojtasiak, who was the only person in the SUV. Firefighters extinguished a few remaining hotspots on the vehicle, he said.

Wojtasiak, who was wearing a seatbelt, was partially pinned by the steering wheel. Kovac said firefighters pulled her from the SUV after removing the door. She was conscious and alert, police said.

Wojtasiak was flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh for treatment. A UPMC spokeswoman said there was no record of Wojtasiak in the hospital Monday.