Car Goes Airborne Near Mt. Nittany Expressway, Lands in Spring Creek

UPDATE @ 4:21 p.m. June 30: Excessive speed was a primary factor in this crash, police have said. Another updated report is available on this page.

Earlier reports are posted below.

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UPDATE @ 11:08 a.m. June 29: Police have identified the driver involved in this crash. New information is posted in a follow-up report, available on this page.

An earlier report is posted below.

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A man was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center after his car went airborne Tuesday afternoon and landed in Spring Creek, emergency responders said.

He was said to be conscious when he was taken from the crash scene, in College Township, but his condition and name were not immediately available.

The wreck happened about 1:15 p.m. where an off-ramp from the Mount Nittany Expressway meets the Boalsburg Pike, between Boalsburg and Oak Hall.

There, a vehicle coming off the expressway reportedly blew through the Boalsburg Pike intersection, went airborne over a guardrail and landed in a gulley, Boalsburg Assistant Fire Chief Cary Asendorf said.

He cited an account provided by a witness — a dump-truck driver in the area.

The car came to rest in Spring Creek, apparently on its side, according to reports at the scene. Because of a thick tree cover there, it was near impossible to see the vehicle from the Boalsburg Pike.

In fact, because of that, ‘it was difficult trying to locate’ the car at first, Asendorf said.

He said responders found the driver outside the car. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he had been ejected during the crash or had gotten out afterward.

Emergency responders used a system of ropes to help pull him up out of the gulley, Asendorf said. He said they also searched the area extensively for other victims, but found none.

Authorities closed down a section of the Boalsburg Pike as they worked Tuesday afternoon. Asendorf said it’ll probably take at least two tow trucks to get the vehicle out of Spring Creek, where water is flowing about knee-high this week.

Responding agencies at the scene included the Boalsburg Volunteer Fire Company, the Alpha Fire Company, the Alpha Fire Police, Centre LifeLink and State College police.

An investigation into the incident is continuing.