A Hempfield Area High School senior was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries Monday morning after the car he was driving smashed into a hillside along Route 136 at a Hempfield intersection.
The crash occurred about a mile from the high school, where he had participated in swim team practice despite earning the day off.
Judson M. Shiffler, 18, of Hempfield was in critical condition Monday night in UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was taken to the hospital by a medical helicopter.
Shiffler was alone in his 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier when it crashed at Route 136 and Millersdale Road about 9:30 a.m., state police at Greensburg said. Shiffler was westbound on Route 136 when his car hit a sign advising motorists of the T-shaped intersection with Millersdale Road. Shiffler's car continued through a stop sign and traveled at least 15 feet up the hillside before stopping when it hit a stand of trees, state police said. The car was heavily damaged.
Firefighters from Fort Allen Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and were assisted by Jeannette EMS, police said.
Shiffler, a swim team captain, was at practice even though he had been given the day off because he had earned the best grades among members of the boys team, according to his coach, Kevin Clougherty."He's just a tremendous leader and a captain. He walks around humbly and is always approachable," Clougherty said.
Shiffler won the Class AAA 50-yard freestyle competition at the WPIAL swimming championships in February. He competed in the state Class AAA swimming championships in the 100-yard butterfly and 50-yard freestyle events, according to CollegeSwimming.com, a website that ranks college swim teams and tracks recruits.
CollegeSwimming.Com ranks Shiffler as 35th among high school swimmers in the state and 584th in terms of recruits from the graduating class of 2015.
Despite winning the individual honors at the WPIAL swimming championships, Clougherty said Shiffler was happiest to have his team perform well in the 200-yard and 400-yard relays at the championships.
"He was so proud of his guys. He is great with his teammates and put his teammates first," Clougherty said.
Shiffler not only excels in swimming, Clougherty said, he has helped tutor some of his younger teammates.
Jacob Tierney and Joe Napsha are staff writers for Trib Total Media. Jacob can be reached at 724-836-6646. Joe can be reached at 724-836-5252 or jnapsha@tribweb.com.
Source : http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/7463910-74/intersection-car-firefighters
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