A reminder to ‘Steer Clear’ after death of York County fire chief

(Harrisburg) — The recent death of a York County fire chief has authorities reminding drivers to slow down or move over when they encounter an incident on the roadside.

The state’s so-called “Steer Clear” law requires drivers to give extra room to emergency scenes, traffic stops and personnel on the roadside.

PennDOT spokeswoman Fritzi Schreffler says failing to follow the law can result in fines, and it could also cost lives.

“People need to take personal responsibility for their driving,” Schreffler says. “Everybody wants to blame something on somebody else, whether it’s PennDOT’s fault, or law enforcement’s fault, or whomever. People need to take personal responsibility for their own behavior and realize that in an instant everbody’s lives can change.”

Loganville Volunteer Fire Chief Rodney Miller was directing traffic around an accident scene on Interstate 83 early Saturday morning when he was struck and killed.

Police say the driver, Matthew Scott Diehl, was charged with drunken driving and other violations.

In 2008, a Northern York Regional Police officer was killed on Route 15 as he investigated a crash scene.

Authorities say the driver who hit him was speeding and applying makeup at the time.

Fire Chief Miller’s funeral is scheduled for Friday.

Governor Corbett has ordered flags at the state Capitol and at state facilities in York County to be lowered to half staff in Miller’s honor.