House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to re-name the Camp Horne Road Interchange on Interstate 279 in Allegheny County to the Scott F. Hirsh Interchange. This legislation was first introduced last session by my predecessor, Rep. Bill Kortz.  
 

On October 5, 2017, Scott Hirsh was traveling northbound on I-279 in Ohio Township, Allegheny County, when he experienced issues with the camper he was towing. As he was changing the tire on his camper, a distracted driver swerved from the far-left lane, across all travel lanes, and fatally struck Scott. Despite doing everything right – pulling off as far into the shoulder as possible, correctly and adequately displaying safety markings (i.e. blinkers, road flares, caution signs) – Scott didn’t make it home to his family that night. 
 

Last year, Act 105 was passed into law, giving pedestrians who use proper safety markings near disabled vehicles the same protections as first responders and roadside workers. Unfortunately, Scott did not have these protections. Renaming this interchange honors the memory of a Pennsylvanian whose life was taken too soon, and I hope it also serves as a reminder to drivers to move over and slow down when they approach disabled vehicles because it could save a life. 
 

Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation.