Josh Willy Car Accident Penn Hills: In loving memory of Penn Hills High School teacher who died in Squirrel Hill Tunnel crash on I-376

A devastating crash near the Squirrel Hill Tunnel on eastbound I-376 Friday morning caused major traffic delays and claimed the life of Josh Willy, a cherished teacher at Penn Hills High School. Emergency crews spent hours recovering the vehicle and investigating the scene.

The incident occurred when an SUV exited the Squirrel Hill Tunnel, veered off the roadway, and plunged down a steep hillside near the Commercial Street Bridge, ultimately landing in the creek bed of the Nine Mile Run area, several hundred feet below.

PennDOT reported that eastbound I-376 traffic was reduced to a single lane around 9 a.m. as first responders worked to address the crash. The Parkway East reopened by 11 a.m., but not before the accident caused significant disruptions and required a large-scale emergency response.

The SUV’s remote location in the wooded Nine Mile Run area posed challenges for emergency teams. Initially inaccessible by vehicle, state police used heavy equipment already on-site for construction under the Commercial Street Bridge to create a temporary path. A massive crane was later brought in to carefully remove the wreckage, a process that took hours to complete.

Tragically, Josh Willy, the SUV’s driver, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators are still examining the circumstances surrounding the crash. While the cause remains unclear, factors such as weather and speed are under review.

The densely wooded terrain and steep hillside added to the complexity of the recovery operation. Emergency crews worked diligently to stabilize the vehicle and safely remove it from the creek bed, navigating the challenging environment to complete the mission.