MUDDY CREEK TWP — A Lawrence County man had to be plucked from Lake Arthur this morning after an odd chain of events on the Route 422 bridge near Moraine State Park, authorities said.

Michael K. Wells, 48, of New Castle was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital with unknown injuries suffered when he either fell or jumped into the lake to avoid being hit by two vehicles on the bridge.

State police said Wells moments earlier had gotten out of his car after he was involved in a minor accident about 5:35 a.m.

The incident caused a major traffic backup in the eastbound lanes during the morning rush hour.

Police said it began when a 1980 Ford Thunderbird driven by Sylvester Lane, 35, of New Castle apparently skidded on ice and stopped in the right eastbound lane.

Wells, also traveling east and driving a 1994 Toyota Camry, did not see Lane's stopped car "until the last moment,"according to a police news release.

Wells' car hit the Thunderbird and ended along the cement barrier on the north berm of the bridge.

Neither driver was injured and both got out of their cars to inspect the damage to their vehicles. But soon after, Wells and Lane were running for safety when another car and tractor-trailer came upon the bridge.

Portersville-Muddy Creek volunteer firefighters were called to assist after it was initially reported a vehicle possibly had gone over the bridge and into the water.

Subsequent calls to the Butler County Communications Center reported a person in the water, and then a person clinging to a pillar on the bridge.

The Unionville Volunteer Fire Department's dive team quickly arrived and sent a boat into the water and rescued Wells.

An emergency helicopter flew Wells to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. His condition was not known this morning.

The debris from the wreckage was cleared and the eastbound lanes reopened at 7:03 a.m.