Walter Simpson Jr., 62, Dies After Being Struck in Interstate 70 Construction Zone

 Walter Simpson Jr., 62, of Hesston, Pennsylvania, died after being struck by a minivan while working in an active construction work zone along eastbound Interstate 70 in Fulton County. Simpson was operating a construction sweeper near mile marker 159 in Brush Creek Township, southeast of Breezewood, when the collision occurred. He suffered critical injuries and was transported to Fulton County Medical Center, where Coroner Berley Souders responded and pronounced Simpson deceased at approximately 9:14 a.m.

The crash occurred in an area where construction activity placed workers and equipment close to moving traffic. Pennsylvania State Police identified Simpson as the person struck and continued investigating the circumstances of the collision. A minivan was driven by a 47-year-old woman from West Virginia. Police said the driver was under investigation for suspected driving under the influence. That information describes the focus of the investigation, but the available report did not state that criminal responsibility had been established.

Simpson’s death illustrates the hazards faced by workers who operate along busy highways while construction and maintenance projects are underway. Roadway crews may work around active traffic while using vehicles and equipment, leaving limited space between workers and passing motorists. Interstate work zones can require drivers to navigate lane changes, reduced speeds, equipment movements and other temporary conditions. The circumstances of this collision remain under investigation, so the available information does not establish whether any particular work-zone condition contributed to the crash.

After Simpson was pronounced dead, the Fulton County Coroner’s Office indicated that an autopsy was scheduled at ForensicDX in Windber. Results had not been released at the time of the report. An autopsy and the investigation can help authorities document the cause and manner of death and clarify the circumstances surrounding a fatal collision. Until those findings are available, details about the precise sequence of events remain subject to review by investigators and officials involved in the case.

For Simpson’s family, friends and coworkers, the loss came suddenly while he was carrying out his work. At 62, he was a member of the Hesston community, and his death leaves personal connections that extend beyond the roadway where the collision occurred. The information available about his life is limited, so details about his family, career and personal interests should not be assumed. What is established is that he was working in the construction area when the fatal incident happened.

The investigation will determine what occurred involving the minivan and whether additional factors played a role. Police have not announced a final determination of fault or criminal responsibility in the information provided. The suspected impairment investigation involving the driver is therefore an allegation under examination rather than a completed finding. Any potential charges or other legal action would depend on the evidence gathered by investigators and decisions made after the investigation.

Walter Simpson Jr.’s death has brought attention to a life lost during a work assignment that ended in a fatal collision. His family, friends and coworkers are left to mourn while officials continue reviewing what happened along Interstate 70. The investigation, including the pending autopsy, may provide information about the circumstances of his death. For now, Simpson is remembered as a 62-year-old Hesston resident whose life ended while he was working, leaving those who knew him to cope with a sudden painful loss.