MIDDLESEX TWP — A man was seriously injured Wednesday afternoon when an out-of-control utility truck bucket rolled over his car on Route 228, crushing the roof and awkwardly pinning him under the dashboard for more than 30 minutes, authorities said.

“He was entrapped from the waist down,” said Chief Chris Ballina of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company. “The steering wheel was pushed to the center of the car — it was actually to the right of his right thigh.”

Firefighters labored for nearly 40 minutes to rescue the man, whose name was not immediately available. He is believed to be in his mid- to late-60s.

Authorities said he suffered compound fractures to his right leg, facial cuts and other likely injuries.

A medical helicopter flew him from the scene to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. His condition was not known this morning.

The crash happened about 3:10 p.m. when the estimated 25-ton truck traveling west on Route 228 crossed the double-yellow line and hit an embankment on the other side of the road.

The communications services company truck caromed back onto the road.

“The back end spun around and rolled over the (eastbound) car,” Ballina said.

The compact car sustained heavy damage to its front and roof, which had to be cut off to get to the driver.

The rescue operation was far from routine, fire officials admitted.

“He was bleeding,” Ballina said of the driver, “and we were afraid that after taking the dashboard out he would bleed out.”

But the obviously traumatized man remained conscious and was talking to emergency medical crews throughout the rescue.

The driver of the truck, whose name was not known, was uninjured.

The wreck closed the road for about two hours.

Middlesex Township police are investigating but an accident report was not available this morning.