Teen dies in Route 40 accident
An 18-year-old Smock man was killed in the first of two fatal crashes in less than a 24-hour period in Fayette County. Richard A. Kushak, was pronounced dead at the scene by Fayette County Deputy Coroner Alvin Sapp at 11:40 p.m. after the 1992 Saturn sedan he was driving struck a concrete barrier along Route 40 at 11:09 p.m.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip Riley said Kushak died from blunt force injuries to the head and face and added that emergency crews worked for about 20 minutes to free Kushak from the vehicle.
Riley said he will not perform an autopsy and is awaiting toxicology reports to reveal if alcohol played a role in the crash.
According to the state police, Kushak was traveling along Route 40 near Oakland Avenue in South Union Township when he left the roadway, striking a concrete pillar on the driver’s side.
No further details were available at press time.
Kushak was born July 23, 1986, in Uniontown, son of Charles Kushak, Jr., and Paula Rowan Kushak of Smock.In addition to his parents, he is survived by three sisters, Charlotte Heikkila of Pottsville, Pa., Leah Swanson of Mount Jewette, Pa. and Charly Kushak at home; his maternal grandparents, Paul and Marie Rowan of Vanderbilt; paternal grandfather, Charles Kushak, Sr., of West Leisenring; a step-brother, James P. Nelson of Franklin, Pa.; a special friend, Heather Cornish of Lemont Furnace; other special friends, Phillip, Dave, David, Jerry, Steven and Brian; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.
His paternal grandmother, Betty Jane Kushak; uncle, John A. Kushak, Sr.; and cousin, John A. Kushak, Jr, predecease him.
Kushak was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Uniontown, had been employed with Piccolomini Construction and was employed at Eat ‘N Park Restaurant in Uniontown. He was a graduate of Uniontown High School Class of 2004.
Friends will be received in the Donald R. Crawford Funeral, Hopwood, today from 7 to 9 p.m., Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturday until 10 a.m., the hour of service. Interment will follow in the Laurel Hill Cemetery.