SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – Shortly before 7:00 PM on Sunday, September 18, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched units to Church Road and State Road in Ryan Township for a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Fire Districts 6 (Delano) and 26 (Ryan Twp.) were due along with Ryan Twp. EMS, Luzerne County Medic 11 (APTS) and Engine 454 (Citizens – Mahanoy City).
Responding units were advised of a car versus motorcycle with the motorcycle rider severely injured with a compound leg fracture and was located under the other vehicle.
Ryan Township Ambulance 976 arrived on the scene to find a motorcycle wedged underneath the front of a jeep with a male lying next to it. The patient was found to be in critical condition, aeromedical was requested for rapid transport.
Chief 26 arrived on the scene and established command. Rescue 26 arrived and stabilized the vehicles. The rescue company used their winch to pull the jeep away from the motorcycle. Engine 454 was directed to control hazards and assist with patient care. Engine 6-10 was redirected from the scene to Locust Lake State Park to establish a landing zone for MedEvac 7.
The patient was packaged and loaded into the awaiting ambulance then taken to the landing zone. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries before being transferred to a trauma center. The patient, Jeff Donnelly, was a beloved teacher for the Mahanoy Area School District, an athletic coach and a volunteer EMT for Mahanoy City EMS.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.
