Police link speed to fatal accident
CALIFORNIA – Authorities believe excessive speed was a factor in a fatal accident Wednesday evening that killed a Brownsville man whose car went airborne for more than 100 feet, clearing the northbound ramp to Route 43. Richard R. McDonald, 24, of Old National Pike was pronounced dead at the scene, and two Fredericktown men were injured and remained in a Pittsburgh hospital Thursday.
Richard Dunfee, 18, was listed in critical condition and John Lancaster, 23, in fair condition in a UPMC hospital.
State police trooper Brian Hayes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike patrol unit in New Stanton reported that the car was northbound on Route 43 at 7:47 p.m. when the driver lost control.
The driver has not yet been identified and none of the men was wearing a seatbelt, Hayes reported. The accident remains under investigation.
Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said McDonald’s death was accidental and caused by multiple blunt force trauma.
Warco said the car left the road after a left-hand bend in the road and traveled into a culvert.
It became airborne as it exited the culvert and crossed over the northbound entrance ramp to Route 43, which is part of the Mon/Fayette Expressway, and over guardrails. The car landed more than 100 feet away over an embankment, Warco said.
Lancaster and Dunfee were first transported to Brownsville General Hospital before being taken to UPMC.
Also responding to the crash were police from California, California University, Centerville and state police from Washington. Volunteer fire departments from California and West Brownsville, and Brownsville Ambulance, Community Ambulance and Ambulance and Chair Service also responded.
McDonald was born April 26, 1978, in Washington, Pa., son of Richard L. and Kathleen G. (Finey) McDonald.
He is survived by his parents, with whom he made his home; his brother, John McDonald and wife, Jodi, of Centerville; paternal grandparents, Ray and Helen McDonald of California; maternal grandparents, John and Grace Finey of Centerville; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Friends will be received in the Mariscotti Funeral Home Inc., 323 Fourth St., California, Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and until 11 a.m. Monday, when services will be held in the funeral home, with the Rev. Edd Myers officiating. Interment will follow in Taylor Cemetery.