Jul 5, 2016 2 min read

The male driver of a Lincoln Zephyr was flown to UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital with head and leg injuries after his vehicle overturned on Interstate 79 Tuesday.

The crash, which happened about 4 p.m. near the Lone Pine exit in Amwell Township, had northbound lanes closed to traffic until about 5:15 p.m., when the scene was cleared.

Witnesses at the scene said the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle swerved onto the outer berm several times before skidding into a guard rail and overturning. The driver was found by Wildlife Conservation Officer Jeremy Febinger, who said he saw the accident from the southbound lanes, made a U-turn into the grass median and administered first aid until state police and medical crews arrived.

“His ear was nearly ripped off, and he was telling me where he was hurting, so he was concious when I found him. He suffered head trauma and what appeared to be a broken leg,” Febinger said.

Lone Pine assistant fire chief Chaz McVay said speed appeared to be a factor as the vehicle nearly went over the overpass and through the guardrail, mangling the railing and landing on its roof. Southbound lanes of I-79 remained open as a medical helicopter landed in the northbound lanes. Fire crews from Amwell and South Strabane townships also responded to the scene.