PLAIN GROVE TWP, Lawrence — A Gibsonia man was seriously injured this morning when he lost control of his sport utility vehicle and crashed on Interstate 79 near the Lawrence County-Butler County line, authorities said.

Michael A. Latronica Jr., 23, was thrown out of his 1997 GMC Jimmy and landed on the side of the highway.

Latronica was conscious and later flown by medical helicopter to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio, said Ron Steele, assistant fire chief of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company.

His condition was not known this morning.

Authorities said the man was northbound on I-79 when he crashed and rolled his SUV shortly after 5:40 a.m.

The wreck left the vehicle "so mangled up," Steele said, that he was unable to immediately identify the make or model.

Latronica was found on the west berm. He suffered hip and other serious injuries, rescuers said.

Authorities asked for the road to be closed to allow a medical helicopter to land on the highway; however, that plan was aborted and the helicopter landed at an interstate rest area in nearby Liberty Township, Mercer County.

Traffic reportedly was backed up for miles after the crash, but the road apparently remained open.