A Shaler man who was thrown more than 120 feet off of the Veterans Bridge in a motorcycle accident yesterday afternoon was listed in critical condition at Allegheny General Hospital.

Mark Purcell, 19, suffered two broken legs and head injuries, but was talkative and alert before being taken to the hospital.

He was wearing a helmet, police said.

Pittsburgh police Sgt. Joseph Gannon said the motorcycle was traveling northbound on the bridge shortly after 4 p.m. when the operator struck a lamp post and was thrown over a barricade, landing on Route 28 below.

Police closed the bridge and Route 28 for nearly 2 1/2 hours. Traffic flow was restored about 6:30 p.m.

The area has seen two fatal motorcycle accidents in recent years.

Last month, Edward Campbell, 26, of Penn Hills, was killed when he lost control on the climbing, curving ramp that leads from southbound Route 28 to the Veterans Bridge.

Police said Campbell's motorcycle hit the barrier along the ramp deck and Campbell flew off the bike and over the edge of the roadway, hitting a railroad bridge support before landing on the concrete barrier beside General Robinson Street.

In 2000, Edward Short, 35, of Greenfield, died when he lost control of his motorcycle on the ramp from southbound Route 28. Police said he was thrown off the bike and fell 100 feet to the pavement on East Ohio Street.