Driver Survives Extreme Applewold Crash

 

by David Croyle

A driver was sent by medical helicopter to Pittsburgh following an accident on Friday morning shortly after 11AM in Applewold.

East Franklin Fire Chief Mark Feeney said the crew was returning from a fire prevention program in West Hills school when the 9-1-1 call was initiated.

“The gentleman in the pickup truck was traveling south on Allegheny Avenue and, what we believe at this time, experienced a medical emergency of some type and just floored it (the accelerator pedal),” Feeney said. “He proceeded down to where Allegheny Avenue makes the right-hand turn onto Hickory. He just went straight thru the parking area and hit a dirt embankment that is about six-feet high. He was launched airborne, wrapped around a tree that was about seven-and-a-half feet high. He got swung from that tree onto another tree, taking limbs off 22-feet high in the air. That tree stopped his pickup and he fell down onto the ground and slid down the riverbank, coming to rest on the roof of the vehicle. He was hanging upside down in his seatbelt. The truck was totally mangled. When the rescuers got on scene, we had to cut the cab back, then we were able to move the electric seat back and tilt the steering wheel up to get him out of the vehicle.”

Feeney said due to the department being crewed, it was 12 minutes from time the call came in until the gentleman was extricated of the vehicle.

The helicopter landed at the Applewold park and flew the victim to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.
Kittanning Police Department was not available for further details.

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