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Biker only slightly hurt after split-second decision to jump

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

By Lillian Thomas, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Motorcyclist Edward Conn saw it coming -- the van veering out of its lane on U.S. Route 322 in Venango County, headed straight for the Mustang convertible right in front of him.

"We were on a bridge, and I had to make a split-second decision," said Conn. "I just applied my brakes and started to slide. The way I was coming in toward the Mustang, I knew I was going to lose my leg if I went under. For whatever reason, I jumped up in the air, I jumped backward."

He landed on his back, on the trunk of the Mustang, just as the van collided with it. Somehow, he emerged nearly unscathed.

A passenger in the convertible was killed. Four others in the accident were hurt.

Conn later learned what had caused the crash, on the Eighth Street Bridge in Cranberry, Venango County.

It was a parakeet.

State police said the driver of the van, H. Dean Kinch, 72, of Seneca, was distracted by the bird, which escaped from a cage and started flying around in the van, triggering the accident at 4:15 p.m. Sunday.

Charlotte Wheeler, 59, of Emlenton, riding in the back seat of the Mustang, was killed. The driver, Peggy Ann Wilson, 68, of Emlenton, had major injuries, as did her front-seat passenger, James McGraw, 67, of Emlenton. Both were flown to UPMC Presbyterian.

Nobody in the convertible was wearing a seat belt, police said.

Kinch and his passenger, Alma Kinch, 68, both had moderate injuries and were taken to UPMC Franklin.

After the collision, Conn, 51, of Reno, Venango County, started to call police on his cell phone but noticed an unmarked state police cruiser on the scene.

"I approached the Mustang and there was a fellow, thrown across the car, up in the dash area. I looked in the rear seat, and there was a woman lying across the rear seat. I reached down to see if she had a pulse. She did not," he said.

Dean Kinch was out of his vehicle, Conn said.

"The gentleman from the van asked if they were OK. I said 'no.' I asked if he was OK. He said he didn't know. I told him to get back in the van."

Conn, who was wearing a helmet, waited at the scene until all the victims had been taken to the hospital, then had himself driven to UPMC Franklin. He had minor shoulder and back injuries.