Perryopolis wreck sends two to hospital
PERRYOPOLIS — State police are investigating a collision between a motorcycle and a vehicle that sent two women to area hospitals Sunday afternoon.
Fayette EMS said the accident occurred around 2:51 p.m. at the intersection of Constitution Street and Route 51.
A.J. Boni, assistant chief Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department, said the biker, a woman, was conscious and alert when first responders arrived. He said she was flown via medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh area hospital.
Boni said the woman driving the car was taken to Mon Valley Hospital.
Eyewitnesses said this woman was conscious, alert and sustained minor injuries from the crash.
Their names have not been released to the media.
Gabrielle Trammel, 18, and Harlee Erdley, 14, both of Perryopolis, were walking to Erdley’s swimming pool nearby when the collision occurred.
Trammell said the woman riding the bike was thrown over the car by the impact of the collision. She said the woman, who landed on her back, was not moving.
Trammell said she rushed over to the injured woman laying in the road.
“I thought she was dead at first,” she said. “I was so scared for the woman on the bike that I thought I was going to cry. I think this is the worst thing I’ve seen in my life. I hope those ladies are OK.”
Erdley helped the woman, who had been driving the car, out of her vehicle. Erdley said she held the woman’s hand and tried to calm her down.
“I didn’t have to do it, it was just instinct,” she said.
Erdley’s mother, Maria Frioni, had high praise for her daughter and her friend.
“It took a lot of courage on their part after seeing the accident to go over and assist,” she said. “Not a lot of young people would do that.”
Ed Broadwater said the intersection of Constitution Street and Route 51 is a common crash site.
“It really is a bad intersection,” said Broadwater, 25, of Perryopolis. “As soon as I saw the bike in the road, I thought – not again.”
Traffic was re-routed around the crash site.
Fayette City and Perry Twp. Volunteer fire departments assisted police and Fayette EMS.