A Butler area man was seriously injured Saturday afternoon when he lost control of his car and crashed into a utility pole and a parked vehicle for sale at a used car dealership in Center Township.

A Butler area man was seriously injured Saturday afternoon when he lost control of his car and crashed into a utility pole and a parked vehicle for sale at a used car dealership in Center Township, authorities said.

John B. Kirk, 70, was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital following the wreck at about 4:50 p.m. on Route 8 just east of Mercer Road.

State police said Kirk was traveling north on Route 8 when his 2004 Honda Civic crossed over the southbound lane and hit the pole. The car continued into a 2018 Cadillac XT5 sport utility vehicle that was parked in the Wallace Family Motors parking lot.

The crash left Kirk trapped, said Shaun Milkovich, an assistant chief with the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department.

Crews deployed hydraulic rescue tools, Milkovich said, and removed the driver's side door, lifted the dashboard and removed the steering wheel to get Kirk out. He was conscious and alert during the rescue that took just eight minutes.

A helicopter landed at the nearby Crossfire church parking lot on Route 8 at Mercer Road, and flew the driver to an unspecified hospital. Police described the injuries as serious.

Traffic was reduced to one lane for a little less than 30 minutes after the crash. Kirk's car sustained severe front-end damage and had to be towed. The SUV also sustained damage to its passenger area.

Butler Ambulance Service assisted and the Department of Veterans Affairs Fire Department set up the landing zone.