Traffic accidents claim two lives
Two men were killed in separate area highway accidents in Greene and Westmoreland counties Sunday evening and early Monday morning. Killed in the crashes were Dewayne Allen Clark, 28, of Waynesburg and Gerald Hopper, 53, no address given.
State police in Waynesburg said Clark was traveling west at 2 a.m. on Route 21 just west of Spotted Pony Road in Jefferson Township, Greene County, when his vehicle failed to negotiate a curve in the road, and he lost control of his car.
After entering the eastbound lane, his vehicle was struck in the right front side by Ronald Stull, 48, of New Salem, who was eastbound, police said.
Clark was pronounced dead at the scene by Greene County Coroner Greg Rohanna and Stull was flown by medical helicopter to Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh and then transferred to Mercy Hospital.
Police said neither driver was using a seat belt and the accident remains under investigation.
Rohanna said an autopsy will be performed. Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department and Department of Transportation workers assisted with traffic control. Southwest EMS also responded.
Clark, a student at Waynesburg College, was employed at the High Street Exxon service station in Waynesburg. He is survived by his mother, Diana Carter of Waynesburg; a sister, Leslie Blake of Waynesburg; and two brothers, Robert Gephart of Waynesburg and James Gephart of Ocala, Fla.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Paul M. Lesako Funeral Home in Carmichaels.
State police in Greensburg said Hopper died in an accident along Route 119 in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, at 6:50 p.m. Sunday.
Police said he lost control of his vehicle while attempting to get on to the off ramp for Technology Drive. He was partially ejected as his vehicle flipped numerous times. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Westmoreland County coroner.