3 men sent to hospital, traffic snarled
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — A wreck on Route 68 Wednesday in front of Connoquenessing Elementary School sent three men to hospitals and slowed traffic for more than an hour.
Around noon, emergency responders were called to a three-vehicle accident, according to Butler Township Volunteer Fire District Capt. Joe Ladue. He said all three drivers were able to free themselves without mechanical assistance, however, they all suffered various levels of injury.
“We didn't have to cut anybody free today,” Ladue said.
The driver of a truck traveling east was at fault, according to state police at the scene. The vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane, struck a car head-on and flipped. Once on its roof, the vehicle sideswiped a van.
The truck driver was transported from the scene by ambulance to a hospital in Pittsburgh, according to Ladue. The third driver, in the vehicle that was sideswiped, was driven by ambulance to Butler Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the vehicle that was struck head-on was flown to Allegheny General Hospital by a LifeFlight helicopter. The team was able to land in a field across the road from the elementary school, very close to the wreck.That driver suffered the most serious injuries, to the head and arm, according to Ladue. His arm was placed in a splint by medics at the scene.A state trooper on the scene said the names of those involved would be released later. Investigators did not find signs of impairment in the drivers.As emergency crews responded, traffic was routed through the elementary school campus.It slowed travel in the area, but state and school police were able to keep vehicles moving using the school's roads. An officer with the Butler School Police force said the wreck wouldn't affect regular afternoon dismissal.Besides state police and Butler Township fire district personnel, the Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company and Butler Ambulance Service responded to the scene.
