Centre County Coroner’s Office releases identity of man killed in US Route 322 crash

A 36-year-old Maryland man died Monday after a multi-vehicle crash on U.S. Route 322, the Centre County Coroner’s Office said Friday.

Junior Rodriguez Rivera, who lived in Halethorpe, Maryland, died from the blunt force trauma he received during the crash, according to Centre County Deputy Coroner Debra Smeal. His death was ruled accidental.

Police responded to the crash just before 6:30 a.m. Monday morning in the 5700 block of Mount Nittany Expressway (U.S. Route 322) near Boalsburg. Following the crash, Rivera was transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to a press release from the State College police, Rivera was driving his Chevrolet truck in the highway’s westbound lane when he veered into the eastbound lane, colliding with a tractor trailer. Following the initial collision, the tractor trailer crossed back into the westbound lane and struck two other vehicles.

The driver of the tractor trailer and the drivers of the two other vehicles involved were also transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College police wrote. They were all treated and released.

The crash resulted in a portion of U.S. Route 322 — between state Route 45 and the Oak Hall/Lemont exit — being closed for about five hours Monday morning.

Police asked anyone with information on the crash to contact them at 814-234-7150.

The Boalsburg Fire Department, Centre LifeLink EMS, the Centre County Accident Reconstruction Team, the coroner’s office and PennDOT were among those that responded to assist State College police.