Two motorcycle riders hurt in crash with truck
Medical helicopters flew two people from the scene of a motorcycle accident involving a pickup truck Tuesday afternoon on Route 8.
Around 4:30 p.m., Good Samaritan Jason Summerville, of West Sunbury, caught a glimpse of a black motorcycle with two riders slam into the side of a Chevy S-10 pickup truck on Route 8 at the intersection of Mahood Road and Unionville Road.
According to Unionville Volunteer Fire Company Assistant Chief Nathan Wulff, the two riders were taken by medical helicopter to Pittsburgh hospitals. One male driver and one juvenile passenger in the truck were evaluated at the scene, but neither was transported.
Summerville said he turned his own motorcycle off and made his way to the scene with others who were trying to help out.
“Just one after another, just like a community family,” Summerville said. “We just tried to keep everyone talking and calm and awake.”
Also sitting at the intersection is the Unionville Fire Station, where Fire Chief Mike Pflugh was inside working on paperwork. “I heard a bang,” said Pflugh, adding that he went outside to confirm his suspicion of an accident. “I went back inside, put on my gear and pulled out the rescue truck.”
Pflugh said he used the rescue truck to block traffic, and his experience as a pre-hospital registered nurse to evaluate the patients at the scene.
He said the motorcycle riders appeared to have serious injuries to their extremities and other trauma. He said the juvenile from the truck was alert and spoke with him.
“She was alert and said she wasn't hurt too bad,” he said.
According to Wulff, as more firefighters arrived they shut down Route 8 from McCandless Road to Sunset Drive.
Three ambulances and a medic unit were called to the scene, all from Butler Ambulance Service. The helicopters used the grass field next to the fire station as a landing zone.
State police were also at the scene and investigated the crash from which both the motorcycle and truck were towed. The truck had heavy damage to the passenger side.
Pflugh commended the Good Samaritans who stopped to help him, especially in the first moments following the crash, before other first responders arrived.
“They definitely were able to keep traffic flowing and help control the scene,” Pflugh said. “When you're here by yourself, Good Samaritans are really valuable.”
Summerville said he is hoping for the best for all involved in the crash.
“It's terrible to have anyone in an accident,” he said, “let alone a motorcycle accident.”
Traffic resumed around 5:30 p.m.
