By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff writer
A Westmoreland County man died behind the wheel of his vehicle Saturday afternoon in Cornplanter Township.
Richard W. Brett, 62, of New Florence, was traveling north on Route 227 in a 2009 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck around 4:30 p.m. when he drifted across the road into a patch of pine trees, according to Franklin state police.
The vehicle then went across a private yard and came to rest engaged with a residence, police said.
Bystanders approached the vehicle and removed Brett, who was wearing his seat belt, before administering CPR with unsuccessful results, police said.
Cornplanter volunteer firefighters transported Brett to the UPMC Northwest emergency room, where he was pronounced dead at 5:42 p.m., Venango County Coroner Christina Rugh said.
Witnesses said the truck appeared to be traveling at a normal speed when Brett slumped over as he drifted across the roadway, police said.
An autopsy was conducted Monday morning in Erie, and Rugh said Brett’s death was from natural causes, including cardiac-related issues.
