An unidentified woman was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh by medical helicopter Thursday afternoon after she crashed her car into a metal gate for the Calumet Penreco chemical plant along Route 268. Firefighters and medical technicians had to cut into the woman's Saturn sedan to get her out.

KARNS CITY — A woman was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh by medical helicopter Thursday afternoon after she crashed her car into a metal gate and was trapped inside for about an hour.

Firefighters and medical technicians had to cut into the woman’s Saturn sedan to get her out because she was heavily entrapped, Petrolia fire chief Chuck Barnes said.

State police at the scene Thursday did not identify the crash victim.

The car was traveling north on Route 268 when it veered off the road and hit a metal entrance gate for Calumet Penreco chemical plant.

Hitting the gate caused the front tire on the driver’s side to move into the front seat, pinning the driver, Barnes said.

Firefighters did a side removal and a dash lift to free her, he said.

The crash was reported at 3:50 p.m., according to the Butler County 911 records. The woman was taken by ambulance to the Karns City youth baseball fields shortly before 5 p.m. where the helicopter was waiting.

Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department and EMS responded and were assisted by Chicora Fire Department and Sugar Creek EMS.

Tracee Barton of East Brady and Brittany McCoid of Slippery Rock were two of the first people to arrive at the scene.

McCoid didn’t witness the crash, but said she stopped and called 911 when she saw the wrecked car.

A couple other passing cars didn’t seem to notice the car or didn’t realize that it was an emergency situation, she said.

Barton, who was down the street, walked over and talked to the woman to calm her while an ambulance was en route.

Trooper Brian Krajnikovich said he needs to interview the driver before determining the cause of the crash.