Crash Sends Leechburg Woman to Hospital

by David Croyle

A Leechburg woman was taken by ambulance to ACMH after her car veered off the road on Route 66 South of Ford City shortly before 8PM last night.

According to sources at the scene, the Hyundai Sonata lost control and ran off the right side of the roadway, flipping over as many as four times before coming to rest back on its wheels in a field. Misty rain and wet roads could have played a part in the accident.

Two men were good Samaritans, stopping to give their assistance before rescue crews arrived.

Dennis Vernat from Cochrans Mills Vernat said he was in the middle of feeding rabbits and cooking corn when he ran out of propane and made the trip to the Ford City Sheetz. As he was returning, he came upon the accident just moments after it occurred.

“I just came around the bend and she was sitting here. I pulled in when I seen (the vehicle) smoking. When I got half way up through the yard, she was getting out and started walking. I made her sit down right here at the edge of the field. She stayed there until the ambulance came. We started looking for her purse.”

Vernat said the purse and cell phone had been ejected more than 70 feet away from where the car came to rest.

Roger Toy lives two houses away at 877 Main Street. He heard the crash and also came over to offer assistance.

“(Vernat) helped her get out by the time I got here. His phone wouldn’t get 9-1-1, so I dialed 9-1-1. We got her in the grass and made sure she was alright. I called for an ambulance and then called her mother.”

The driver was taken to ACMH Hospital by Ford City Ambulance. Mike’s Towing assisted in towing the car from the scene.

Both Manor Township Officer Steven Cippel and Ford City Borough Police Sergeant Mark Brice assisted at the scene.

Ford Cliff firemen were first to respond on the scene followed by the Manor Township fire crews. The Ford City Fire Department was held at station in the event more emergency personnel were needed.

Manor Township Police Chief Michael Karabin refused release of the driver’s name. Her condition was not available at the time of publication. Another source at the scene said the woman has just left work at Wal-Mart and was driving home.