Police: Excessive Speed a Factor in Spring Creek Crash

Excessive speed was the primary contributing factor in the dramatic car crash Tuesday along Warner Boulevard, State College police said Thursday.

They plan to file a traffic citation against the driver in the College Township wreck, Nikolay Gusev, 18, of Centre Hall, according to a police briefing.

Gusev, who was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center immediately after the crash, was transferred later to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, police said. They said his condition is improving markedly and that he may be released as early as Thursday.

The wreck happened shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday where Warner Boulevard meets the Oak Hall exit of the Mount Nittany Expressway. According to police reports, Gusev, driving a Ford Focus, blew through the intersection as he left the expressway.

The Ford apparently went out of control, going airborne over a guide rail, hitting a stone embankment and landing on its roof in Spring Creek, an accident report shows.

Warner Boulevard was partially closed for part of Tuesday.

Earlier coverage

• Driver Identified after Spring Creek Crash (June 29, 2011)

• Car Goes Airborne Near Mt. Nittany Expressway, Lands in Spring Creek (June 28, 2011)