Motorcyclist dies after crash
BUFFALO TWP — A motorcyclist died this morning of injuries after he crashed his speeding bike Wednesday night on Freeport Road, police said.
Moments later, another motorist escaped injury when he flipped his car after hitting the parked vehicle of a Good Samaritan who had stopped to help the critically injured cyclist.
Wesley T. Ballina, 42, of South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County, died at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, where was taken after the first crash about 9:40 p.m.
He was pronounced dead at 3:59 a.m. today, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Buffalo Township police said Ballina was southbound when he lost control of his 1986 Kawasaki ZL600 going up a hill on Freeport Road near the former Dugout bar.
Investigators believe speed was a factor in the wreck that happened in a construction zone just north of Route 908.
Police said Ballina, who was not wearing a helmet, laid down his bike and slid for some distance.
He suffered severe head and stomach injuries and was left unconscious on the road, rescuers said.
An off-duty emergency medical technician happened to come upon the wreck and stopped to help, police said.
The EMT, whose name was not available this morning, had been driving south and parked his vehicle on the west berm.
He was tending to Ballina when another southbound motorist possibly driving too fast traveled onto the scene and swerved suddenly to avoid the EMT’s parked car, police said.
The driver, whose name also was not available, momentarily crossed into the opposing lane before veering back into his lane and slamming into the parked vehicle.
The driver’s car flipped onto its roof. He was not hurt but was trapped inside the car. Buffalo Township volunteer firefighters had to extricate him from the wreckage.
