CLEARFIELD – Three local males were hospitalized following a single-vehicle crash Wednesday night in Clearfield.
The crash occurred at 7:54 p.m. at the intersection of state Route 879 and the Park Avenue exit, according to the Lawrence Township police.
Responding officers learned that the vehicle had traveled through a stop sign and into the guiderail.
Upon arrival to the scene, police observed a Houtzdale male, Richard A. Demko Jr., climbing out of the passenger’s side front window.
Police proceeded to park the patrol unit and approach, at which time it was learned that Demko had fled into the woods toward Cumberland Street.
Officers requested assistance from the Clearfield Borough police to search for Demko. He was later located in the area of Sixth Street and Park Avenue, and he was transported by ambulance back to the scene.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had two other occupants.
Police say the driver – Dalton D. Warner of Winburne – suffered severe head injuries from the roof’s collapse after impact with the guiderail.
The other occupant – Scott R. Moore of Clearfield – was the right, rear-seat passenger. He also suffered head injuries and cuts/abrasions to his facial area.
Warner and Moore were extricated from the vehicle by firefighters after which they were transported to ambulance units for medical treatment and life-flight preparation to the UPMC Altoona Trauma Unit.
Police say that based upon observation at the scene, the Warner vehicle had been traveling at a “speed greater than reasonable.” It was determined the vehicle had traveled through the stop sign and impacted with the guiderail.
It traveled underneath the guiderail, which pushed it up and out of the ground. The guiderail then collapsed and crushed the vehicle’s roof down on the three males.
The condition of the three males is unknown at this time, according to the police report.
