Woman Seriously Injured in I-279 Ramp Accident

A driver suffered severe injuries after being ejected from her car after it got a flat tire on Friday about 12:15 p.m. on the McKnight exit ramp of I-279.

Kimberly E. Smith of Pittsburgh, the driver of the 2003 Ford Focus sedan, was transported to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, Smith was traveling south on the McKnight Road ramp to I-279 south when a tire on her car went flat and she lost control of the vehicle. The car traveled off the berm and struck the right side guardrails.

After impact, the car crossed back over the roadway and struck a concrete all on the left side of the road. The car's left wheels then partially lifted off the roadway, leaving only the right wheels on the ground.

The vehicle continued to travel about 40 feet to a point where Smith was ejected from the passenger side window of the car onto the roadway. She was not wearing a seatbelt.

State police were assisted at the scene by City of Pittsburgh police, fire and emergency medical service crews. The car suffered moderate damage, police said.