Two Washington County men killed Saturday in separate crashes
Two Washington County men were killed Saturday in separate crashes, one in Buffalo Township and a later one in Smith Township.
Thomas Mickle, 41, of Claysville, was pronounced dead at UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh two and a half hours after his van crashed just before 5:30 a.m. on Route 40 west of Sunset Beach Road in Buffalo. Washington County Coroner Tim Warco identified the man killed Saturday night in a motorcycle crash on Route 18 (Smith Township Road) in Smith as David L. McCann, 47, of Washington.
State police said Mickle was driving his Dodge Caravan east on Route 40 when he lost control on an icy patch. The van spun about 180 degrees counterclockwise before striking a guardrail on the north side of the road. The van went over a guardrail, rolling once. It came to rest facing north on the north side of the road. State police did not indicate whether Mickle was wearing a seat belt.
Mickle was flown to the Pittsburgh hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:59 a.m., said a spokesman for the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office. The cause of Mickle’s death will not be available until the autopsy report is completed, the spokesman added.
McCann was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle going north and crossing the center line, striking a southbound car in the Bavington area, about 6:20 p.m. McCann, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause and manner of his death are pending an autopsy.
Route 18 was closed in the area for about two hours as police investigated the crash, said Smith police Chief Bernie LaRue.
Smith police were assisted by state and McDonald police, Slovan firefighters and crews from Ambulance and Chair Service.
The two men are the second and third persons to be killed on Washington County roads this year.