BUTLER TOWNSHIP — Unionville volunteer firefighters are mourning the loss of a fellow firefighter with more than three decades of service who was killed in a weekend motorcycle crash.

Kenneth W. Lawrence, 53, of Butler died late Saturday morning as the result of injuries suffered in the accident, which occurred in front of a Sheetz gas station on Route 8 at the intersection of Vogel Road.

“He was a super nice guy, always willing to help us out,” said Unionville Volunteer Fire Company Chief Nathan Wulff. “He helped a lot doing fundraising efforts. He loved being around the fire department. That was kind of his thing. Any night you could find him down there playing cards, doing whatever.”

Lawrence was southbound on Route 8, according to police, when he swerved his motorcycle to the left into oncoming, northbound traffic and hit two vehicles — a passenger car driven by 26-year-old Scott Leeson of Butler and a motorcycle driven by Jesse Cunningham, 39, also of Butler.

Lawrence was pronounced dead at the scene. Leeson suffered no injuries. Cunningham suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by Butler Ambulance Service, while his passenger was transported to the hospital with possible serious injuries.

Police do not know what caused Lawrence to go into oncoming traffic. The crash remains under investigation, according to a news release issued Monday by Butler Township police. No criminal charges have been filed.

Emergency responders from Butler, Penn and Middlesex townships were dispatched to the scene. Lawrence was transported to the Butler County Coroner's Office to determine the cause of death.

Wulff said Lawrence served the Unionville department for the past 36 years. During his time with the fire company, he served in a number of positions, including most recently on the board of directors. Wulff said what Lawrence liked best was driving the department's fire trucks.

Wulff said losing Lawrence impacts the fire department in multiple ways. He said Lawrence was the company's main driver to accidents and fires.

“You could always count on him for that. That's operationally and then there's emotionally,” Wulff said. “He was a friend of everyone there. It takes a toll on the guys. We're all trying to make sense of it. It's going to leave a hole for a while.”

Wulff said Lawrence's fellow firefighters will attend his funeral on Wednesday.

“We're working through it as best we could,” Wulff said. “But it'll be a good-deal-long recovery process, but he'd want us to be happy and move on. He was there for the betterment of the community.”