Herkimer, NY (Sports Network) - Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk was killed in a collision with a tanker truck after leading police on a highway chase for 40 miles in upstate New York Thursday morning.
Strzelczyk, 36, spent nine years with the Steelers after getting selected in the 11th round of the 1990 draft.
He was involved in a hit-and-run accident at 7:20 a.m.(et) just outside of Syracuse before the wild chase ensued. Strzelczyk's pickup was spotted 40 miles later, and troopers set up a booby trap of metal spikes in the road to stop him.
Strzelczyk raced through the so-called "stop sticks" despite puncturing one of his tires. He continued to drive 15 miles on three tires and a rim until encountering a tractor trailer set up as a road block by its driver.
Strzelczyk swerved out of the way and headed into oncoming traffic on the westbound lanes of the highway, where he collided head-on with the tanker some three miles later.
The resulting explosion left Strzelczyk's pickup barely recognizable in addition to the large amounts of burning fuel that spilled over. He was the only casualty of the ordeal.
In his nine-year career, Strzelczyk played in 137 games, starting 75 of them, without missing a contest until 1997.
Strzelczyk also had a previous encounter with law, arraigned for illegal possession of a handgun nine months after his February 2000 release from Pittsburgh. Police said Strzelczyk slammed a loaded gun onto a bar during an argument over the coming presidential election.
Strzelczyk, 36, spent nine years with the Steelers after getting selected in the 11th round of the 1990 draft.
He was involved in a hit-and-run accident at 7:20 a.m.(et) just outside of Syracuse before the wild chase ensued. Strzelczyk's pickup was spotted 40 miles later, and troopers set up a booby trap of metal spikes in the road to stop him.
Strzelczyk raced through the so-called "stop sticks" despite puncturing one of his tires. He continued to drive 15 miles on three tires and a rim until encountering a tractor trailer set up as a road block by its driver.
Strzelczyk swerved out of the way and headed into oncoming traffic on the westbound lanes of the highway, where he collided head-on with the tanker some three miles later.
The resulting explosion left Strzelczyk's pickup barely recognizable in addition to the large amounts of burning fuel that spilled over. He was the only casualty of the ordeal.
In his nine-year career, Strzelczyk played in 137 games, starting 75 of them, without missing a contest until 1997.
Strzelczyk also had a previous encounter with law, arraigned for illegal possession of a handgun nine months after his February 2000 release from Pittsburgh. Police said Strzelczyk slammed a loaded gun onto a bar during an argument over the coming presidential election.
