Motorcyclist suffers life-threatening injuries in accident on motorway on Tuesday afternoon

Due to the accident on Tuesday afternoon, the victim had to be flown out by a JeffStat rescue helicopter.

A 52-year-old Allentown motorcyclist remains in critical condition Wednesday after suffering severe head injuries in a crash Tuesday afternoon. A JeffStat ambulance was forced to land on the southbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Worcester Township, causing southbound traffic to be backed up for several hours into the evening.

According to radio traffic, Hector Ruiz suffered severe head injuries and was subsequently flown by helicopter to Jefferson University Hospital.

Photo by James Short

Police said Tuesday at 5:35 p.m. that officers from Troop T in King of Prussia were dispatched to I-476 South at mile marker 25.7 because a motorcycle was lying in the lane.

Upon arrival, police reportedly found Ruiz in the right lane where he was being treated by VMSC and Freedom Valley Medical Rescue emergency medical services.

A motorcycle had broken down in the middle lane of the three-lane highway, police said.

Ruiz was flown to hospital with serious head injuries, police said.

Due to the extent of the injuries, K Philadelphia CARS and FSU troops responded to the scene.

I-476 South was closed until 9:20 p.m., police said.

The northbound lanes of I-476 were reopened shortly after 6:30 p.m., while emergency crews reopened the shoulder of the southbound lanes, according to emergency radio traffic.

The cause of the motorcycle crash is still unknown as of Wednesday afternoon. The accident is being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Troop T in King of Prussia.

Montgomery County 911 radio traffic indicated the victim was not wearing a helmet, but that report could not be confirmed as of Wednesday.

The northbound lanes of I-476 reopened shortly after 6:30 p.m. While emergency personnel were clearing the shoulder of the southbound lanes, the Towmencin Fire Department and 6abc confirmed the southbound lanes reopened around 9:30 p.m.

The cause of the motorcycle crash is still unknown as of Wednesday afternoon. The accident is being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Troop T in King of Prussia.

The victim’s name, age and hometown are currently unknown.

Montgomery County 911 radio traffic indicated the victim was not wearing a helmet, but that report could not be confirmed as of Wednesday.