A 72-year-old Butler County man was found Monday night clinging to a tree on a hillside below the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County after losing control of his vehicle and getting ejected through a rear passenger window.

Gary A. Smith of Renfrew was removed from the tree by the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department and taken by ambulance to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, according to state police.

The crash occurred just after 9 p.m. when Smith was traveling east near mile marker 82.5.

After losing control of a Chevrolet Equinox because of a medical issue, the vehicle struck a guardrail and began to rotate and flip end to end for 50 to 75 feet through a grassy area, police said.

During the uncontrolled movement of the vehicle, Smith was ejected through the left rear passenger side window, even though he was wearing a seat belt and shoulder harness, police said.

Smith was found in a tree on a steep wooded downslope and the vehicle went down the slope before coming to a stop 30 to 50 feet below the level of the roadway.

An update on Smith's condition was not available. He could be reached for comment.

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