Ross County native killed in Pa. crash

ERIE, Pa. - A funeral is planned for Tuesday for a Ross County native who died in a crash last week.

John L. Free II, 35, died in the Nov. 19 crash on Interstate 90 in Erie, Pa. He will be buried in the Bainbridge Cemetery.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police, Free was driving a Freightliner tractor-trailer east on the highway and apparently did not notice when another tractor-trailer slowed in front of his truck. Troopers say Free tried to change lanes to avoid the crash, but his rig struck the back of the first rig. The truck that was struck by Free's truck was pushed into the median, while Free's truck came to rest facing north and blocked both eastbound lanes.

Free was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in his truck, who has not been identified, was taken to a nearby hospital with "major injuries."

Neither Free nor the passenger were wearing seat belts, troopers say. The driver of the other truck, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered minor injuries.

Free, who was a Paint Valley High School graduate, leaves a wife and three children. Donations are being accepted to help with funeral expenses at the Smith-Moore-Ebright Funeral Home in Bainbridge.