Fatal cycle crashes probed
State police are investigating the deaths of two local people killed in unrelated motorcycle accidents early Wednesday morning. Joseph Harshman Jr. of 817 Water St., Brownsville, was killed in an accident on Route 166 around 12:30 a.m.
Police said the 55-year-old Harshman was traveling in Redstone Township, approximately a tenth of a mile south of Oak Hill Road, when he drove his 2001 Kawasaki motorcycle off the roadway while trying to make a slight left turn.
Harshman traveled across the berm and through a grassy area before his motorcycle fell onto its left side, police said, throwing Harshman off the motorcycle and into a concrete barrier.
A Fayette County coroner’s office spokesman said the cause of death was blunt force trauma and that authorities are waiting for toxicology results.
Harshman, according to the coroner’s office, was wearing a helmet when the accident occurred.
Elsewhere, Brenda E. Durbin of Waynesburg died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Franklin Township, Greene County.
Police said the 33-year-old woman was a passenger on a 2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy motorcycle owned and driven by Thomas Scott Smith, 33, of Moody, Texas.
Smith and Durbin were southbound on Route 18 (Browns Creek Road) when Smith lost control of the motorcycle while trying to make a sharp left turn at 1:40 a.m., police said.
The motorcycle slid approximately 145 feet and hit guardrails, throwing Smith and Durbin off the bike, police said.
Both were flown to Mercy Hospital. Police said Smith was not wearing a helmet and suffered moderate injuries.
Durbin was pronounced dead at 3:10 a.m., said police, who are investigating the accident. Police did not say if Durbin wore a helmet.