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WASHINGTON, Pa. — A 15-year-old Wheeling boy was killed in a two-vehicle accident late Thursday on Interstate 70.
The accident occurred about 11:18 p.m. in the westbound lane of I-70 near the Chestnut Street exit in North Franklin Township, Pennsylvania State Police said.
Police said Patrick Niebres, 27, of Jacksonville, Fla., was stopped in the right lane due to traffic when Jonathan Gracey, 51, of Wheeling crashed his car into the rear of Niebres’ tractor-trailer.
The teen, identified by the Washington County Coroner’s Office as Robert James Gracey, was a passenger in the vehicle. Police said he was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
Jonathan Gracey suffered a potentially serious injury and was transported to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Niebres was not injured.
Robert James Gracey was a freshman at John Marshall High School. Marshall County Schools spokesman Tony Woods said grief counselors are at the school today to help students deal with the news.
Both Jonathan Gracey and Niebres were wearing their seat belts, and it is not currently known if the teen was wearing his.
State police were assisted at the scene by Washington County Ambulance and Chair, North Franklin Fire Department, Canton Township Fire Department and the state Department of Transportation.