A quiet Friday afternoon in Avalon turned tragic after a two-vehicle collision left one man dead and sent a woman and a young girl to the hospital, according to Allegheny County police.
Authorities say the crash was reported just before 12:34 p.m. along the 1000 block of Ohio River Boulevard, a busy stretch that runs through the borough. When emergency crews arrived, they found two vehicles badly damaged and three people caught up in the aftermath.
One of the drivers, later identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office as 71-year-old Paul Czambel of Oakdale, was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The driver of the second vehicle, a woman whose identity has not been released, was also taken to a hospital along with her young passenger, a 4-year-old girl. Officials say both were listed in stable condition as of the latest update, offering some relief amid an otherwise devastating scene.
What exactly led to the collision remains unclear. Allegheny County police have not yet released details about how the two vehicles came together or which driver, if either, may have been at fault. The investigation is described as active and ongoing, with detectives working to piece together the sequence of events using witness accounts and evidence gathered at the scene.
For now, officials are appealing to the public for help. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information that could assist investigators is being urged to come forward. Tips can be submitted through the county’s confidential tip line, and callers have the option to remain anonymous if they choose.
As the community absorbs the loss of a longtime Oakdale resident, questions about the circumstances of the crash are likely to linger until police release further findings. Updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
