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Biker critically hurt in 'horrific' Route 422 crash

Emergency crews work Friday after a car and motorcycle collided on Route 422 in Franklin Township.

FRANKLIN TWP — Ron Anderson was standing near the front door of his outdoor sporting goods business on Route 422 Friday when he heard a loud crash.

“I turned around just as the motorcycle came sliding into the parking lot across the street,” Anderson said. “The fellow who was on the bike was lying in the parking lot and I didn't see him moving.”

State police Trooper Matthew Kephart said in his report that at noon Bonnie Gundlach, 67, of Portersville pulled out of the Kwik Fill gas station to turn left into westbound traffic on Route 422 while a 2011 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide driven by Martin Kaczynski, 63, of Renfrew was traveling east on Route 422.

Kaczynski was unable to stop and hit Gundlach's Chevy Cobalt.

Prospect Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and a medical helicopter landed on the busy highway. Emergency medical personnel from Butler Ambulance Service helped load the victim into the chopper for transport to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh where he was listed in critical condition Friday night.

Kephart said in his report that Kaczynski, who was wearing a helmet, appeared to have “major injuries.”

Gundlach, who was not hurt, was charged with a violation of entering or crossing a roadway.

Anderson said several workers from the handful of businesses in the area initially attempted to render aid to Kaczynski before emergency responders arrived, but were afraid to move him.

“There was not much sign of physical activity,” Anderson said of the injured man.

Sandra Kuriger, who works at Roxy's Diner, ran outside when she realized there had been an accident.

Kuriger said the man was conscious when she got outside and appeared to be severely injured.

“It was horrific, that's all I can say,” she said.

Both Anderson and Kuriger said the stretch of Route 422 between the Route 528 overpass and the Unionville Road intersection has been the scene of many wrecks over the years.

Anderson said one hazard is drivers attempting to pull out of the businesses on Route 422 as traffic whizzes by at 60 mph or more.

Another, he said, is the traffic funneling onto Route 422 from the eastbound exit off Route 528.

Anderson, who has owned Applachian Trails for almost 30 years, said a petition circulated in years past to lower the speed limit on Route 422 from the Dick Road intersection to the Route 528 overpass produced no results.

“I think it's something that needs to be revisited,” he said. “In that area, there's about a half-dozen fairly serious accidents per year.”

Anderson said he hopes the injured man will be all right.

“It wasn't a good way to start your spring,” he said.

Personnel from Unionville and Portersville volunteer fire departments assisted with traffic control near the scene, where Route 422 was closed in both directions.

Traffic was rerouted at the Unionville Road intersection and at the ramps onto and off Route 528 as state police investigators studied the crash scene.

Motorcycle and car parts were strewn over the entire width of the road from the Kwik Fill to Roxy's Diner.

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