Traffic stopped Sunday, Feb. 19, on the Route 422 bridge over Lake Arthur in Muddy Creek Township as a helicopter landed to take a motorcyclist whose leg was severed in a crash to the hospital.

The accident closed the road in both directions for about two hours.

State police said Monday that they are investigating if the use of alcohol or drugs caused the incident.

According to a crash report, Jason R. Porter, 43, of Portersville, was driving west on Route 422 around 3 p.m. when his Harley-Davidson struck a guardrail on the bridge over Lake Arthur.

Porter was wearing a helmet, but had his leg amputated as a result of the crash, according to Tim Saunders, chief of Portersville Muddy Creek Township Volunteer Fire Department.

The state police’s crash report indicated the crash remains under investigation, and that the investigating trooper observed, or had reason to believe, Porter was under the influence.

Trooper Josh Black, public information officer for Troop D, said police are waiting for toxicology reports.

First responders set up a landing zone on the bridge, according to Butler County emergency dispatch. The eastbound lane was also closed to traffic to allow the helicopter to land.

Porter was flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, the report states.

Saunders said medical helicopters have previously landed on the bridge for crash victims.

“It’s been years, 12 years — last time was another accident in the winter,” he said.

Todd Hinkle, assistant chief, said the landing was not difficult to maneuver, and the bridge was used as a landing pad for various reasons.

“Everyone thinks a helicopter is so big, but they’re actually kind of small,” he said. “(The cyclist) was losing too much blood, we had to get him out of there. He was in critical condition.”

Prospect Volunteer Fire Department, Butler Ambulance Service and Portersville EMS also responded to the scene.