Two area residents died in motorcycle accidents on consecutive days.
Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson reported that 34-year-old Ryan Gould of Shelocta was killed in an accident in Washington Township, Westmoreland County at 3:33 PM on Monday. Gould was riding his motorcycle west on Route 380 when he lost control of the bike on a curve. The bike went off the right side of the road and hit a guide rail, with the impact throwing him off. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other was Sunday night in Cherry Tree. Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman, Jr. has announced that 39-year-old William Emerson Roland, Jr. of Westover was killed in that crash. According to Overman’s report, Rowland was riding south on Front Street/Stiffler Road near the Indiana-Clearfield County line when he lost control of his motorcycle. Roland went off the road and hit a utility pole, and the impact threw him off the bike.
In both incidents, the victims were wearing helmets at the time, and speed was believed to be a factor in both crashes.
