Jul 24, 2002 By Melissa Glisan 2 min read

BULLSKIN TWP. – State police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a two-car collision that claimed the life of a 68-year-old Mount Pleasant man Tuesday. The Fayette County coroner’s office reported that James Staszel, 68, died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, face and the upper left chest after being ejected from his vehicle during the accident.

Deputy Coroner Heather Hayden pronounced Staszel dead at the scene at 1:19 p.m.

According to investigating state police trooper John E. Pash, the accident happened at the intersection of a legislative route and Richey Road at 12:28 p.m.

Staszel pulled onto Richey Road from a stop sign and into the path of a 2001 Chevy Prism operated by Ronald Roebuck, 16, of Connellsville, police said.

Neither Roebuck nor his passengers – Joshua Hoefer, 19, of Connellsville and Jeffrey Lilley, 18, of Normalville – were injured in the crash.

Police noted that Staszel was not wearing a seat belt, while all the occupants in Roebuck’s vehicle were wearing them.

Additionally, an air bag in Roebuck’s vehicle deployed, police said.

The events leading up to the accident are still under investigation by a collision reconstruction specialist, and the scene had been photographed by the records and identification unit for investigation purposes, according to the coroner’s office.

Funeral arrangements for Staszel are under the direction of the Brooks Funeral Home in Connellsville and were incomplete as of presstime.