A Pine Grove man is dead after a crash early this morning in Schuylkill County.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said the incident occurred at around 6:17 a.m. on Route 443 eastbound when a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser operated by Joseph A. Kopinetz, 48, of Pine Grove, was traveling east.

A 2008 Sterling Acterra garbage truck operated by William R. Moyer, 77, of Pine Grove, was also in the eastbound lane of travel partially on the shoulder of 443 and was stopped due to garbage collection with its hazard lights activated.

The PT Cruiser didn’t brake or slow down and crashed into the rear of the garbage truck, before overturning and coming to final rest on the driver side facing south.

The garbage truck was at final rest several feet from the point of impact facing east.

A passenger in the PT Cruiser, Robert D. Schaeffer, 63, of Pine Grove, died as a result of his injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on scene.

Kopinetz sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash.

Neither Schaeffer nor Kopinetz were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

Moyer was uninjured.

The PT Cruiser was towed from the scene, while the garbage truck sustained functional damage and was able to be driven away from the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.