JENKS TOWNSHIP, Pa. – A head-on collision between a passenger vehicle and an 18-wheeler in Forest County claimed the life of a Palmyra, New York man on Wednesday.
According to Marienville-based Pennsylvania State Police, a 2014 Subaru Impreza driven by John Creighton, 26 of Palmyra, New York, was involved in a head-on collision with 2019 Kenworth T880 driven by Leonard Silvis, 64 of Sheffield, on Route 66 just south of Byromtown Road in Jenks Township at approximately 12:40 p.m. Wednesday.
Marienville Volunteer Fire Department members were on scene and attempting to extract Creighton from the vehicle when troopers arrived, police said. Silvis and the Impreza’s passenger, Brian Ballesty, 26 of Marion, New York, had exited their respective vehicles and were sitting on the side of the road, according to police.
Once extracted from the vehicle, Creighton was taken by Clarion EMS ambulance to East Forest school where he was then LifeFlighted to UPMC Hamot in Erie, police said. Creighton was pronounced dead at Hamot at 4:05 p.m., according to police.
Police said Ballesty was taken to Clarion Hospital by Jefferson County EMS with unknown injuries. Silvis was transported by Priority Care Ambulance to UPMC Kane with unknown injuries. According to police, both Ballesty and Silvis were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, and it was unknown if Creighton was wearing his seatbelt.
