Photo by James Short
A 52-year-old motorcycle operator from Allentown is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries folllowign a Tuesday afternoon crash along the Northeast Extension of the turnpike.
Hector Ruiz, police said, was airlifted by JeffStat medevac, which landed on the southbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Worcester Township, disrupting southbound traffic for several hours into the evening.
Radio traffic indicated Ruiz suffered traumatic head injuries and was subsequently airlifted to Jefferson University Hospital.
Photo by James ShortPolice said at 5:35 p.m. Tuesday, troopers from Troop T in King of Prussia responded to I-476 South at mile marker 25.7 for a report of a motorcycle lying in the travel lanes.
Upon arrival, police found Ruiz being treated by VMSC Emergency Medical Services and Freedom Valley Medical Rescue in the right lane of travel, per the report.
A motorcycle was disabled in the center lane of the three-lane highway, police said.
Ruiz was flown to the hospital for serious head injuries, police said.
Due to the extent of injuries, Troop K Philadelphia CARS and FSU responded to the scene.
I-476 South was closed until 9:20 p.m., police said.
The northbound lanes of I-476 opened shortly after 6:30 p.m. While emergency personnel opened the shoulder of the southbound lanes of travel, per emergency radio traffic.
The cause of the motorcycle crash is unknown as of Wednesday afternoon. The accident is being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Troop T in King of Prussia.
Montgomery County Emergency Radio traffic indicated the victim was not wearing a helmet, but this report has not been corroborated as of Wednesday.
