A late-afternoon crash on Wilmington Road in Neshannock Township turned deadly Wednesday, when a 60-year-old motorcyclist was fatally injured near Mama Jane's Eatery in Lawrence County.
Police identified the rider as Bryan Scheidemantle. He suffered serious injuries in the two-vehicle collision and was taken to UPMC Jameson in New Castle, where he was pronounced dead. The wreck has left local investigators working to sort out exactly how the crash unfolded on the busy stretch of road.
According to a press release from the Neshannock Township Police Department, as reported by CBS Pittsburgh, the crash happened just before 4 p.m. and involved a motorcycle and another vehicle. Emergency crews initially had a medical helicopter staged, but the rider was ultimately taken by ambulance because the helicopter could not fly, the release said. The driver and passenger in the other vehicle were not injured. Pennsylvania State Police were called in to assist while local investigators work to determine the cause.
What responders and investigators reported
First responders from Neshannock Township and county agencies secured the scene, directed traffic around the crash site, and provided emergency care before Scheidemantle was moved to the hospital in New Castle. Officials had an air ambulance ready nearby, but he was transported by ground after the helicopter was unable to take off.
Authorities have so far released only limited information about what happened in the moments before impact and said the investigation is still active. Reconstruction work and witness interviews are expected to help clarify how the vehicles collided.
Motorcycle safety on Pennsylvania roads
Even as Pennsylvania tries to drive down traffic deaths, riders continue to face higher risks on two wheels. As outlined by PennDOT, there were 2,927 crashes involving motorcycles in 2025 that resulted in 186 fatalities, and the agency urges both riders and drivers to get training and share the road.
The statewide decline in traffic deaths last year, noted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, stands in sharp contrast to local tragedies like Wednesday's crash, which highlight the persistent dangers motorcyclists face on Pennsylvania highways and local roads.
Police said in the department's release, as reported by CBS Pittsburgh, that the investigation remains ongoing and that the Pennsylvania State Police assisted at the scene. Authorities have not announced any charges or additional information.
