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MCCANDLESS TOWNSHIP, Allegheny County, Pa., Sept. 24, 2026 — Two people were taken to a hospital after a motorcycle and an SUV collided Wednesday evening, September 23, on Perry Highway in McCandless Township. The crash happened around 6:45 p.m. near Ingomar Road, according to emergency dispatchers.
Video from the scene showed police, firefighters and EMS crews gathered in front of Barry's Pub along Perry Highway.
Perry Highway was closed in the area for several hours while first responders worked the scene.
The collision remains under investigation. Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
What Actually Cuts Down Motorcycle And SUV Collisions
A lot of motorcycle crashes trace back to a single moment: a car drifts into another lane, or closes the gap behind a bike faster than the rider expects, and there's no time left to react. Following distance matters more for motorcycles than it does for two cars, because a bike can slow down far quicker than an SUV behind it, and a driver who's used to judging car-to-car gaps often misjudges that difference. Lane changes carry the same risk in reverse: a motorcycle can be hidden in a blind spot or closing fast enough that a driver checking mirrors simply doesn't see it in time.
Road design plays a real part too. Better lighting at dusk and night, left-turn signal phases that separate turning traffic from oncoming lanes, and medians that physically block cars from drifting across a centerline all cut down on the kind of sudden, close-range conflicts that lead to these crashes. Roundabouts, where they replace busy signaled intersections, tend to slow everyone down and reduce the high-speed angle collisions that are especially hard on riders.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2023. Behavior and infrastructure both show up in that number: how visible a rider is, how much space a driver gives before changing lanes, and whether a road's design gives both of them room to correct a mistake before it turns into a crash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do motorcycle crashes tend to cause more serious injuries than typical car crashes?
A motorcycle offers no frame, airbags or seatbelt, so a rider absorbs the impact directly or is thrown from the bike. Even a low-speed collision can cause serious injuries that a car occupant might walk away from.
How do left-turning vehicles end up colliding with motorcycles?
A common pattern involves a car turning left across traffic, misjudging a motorcycle's speed or distance because the bike is a smaller, faster-moving target. The driver pulls into the bike's path expecting more time than actually exists.
What can drivers do to spot motorcycles more reliably?
Checking mirrors and blind spots twice before changing lanes or turning, and allowing extra following distance, gives a driver more time to register a motorcycle's actual speed and position.
What should a rider do immediately after a crash?
Get to a safe spot off the road if possible, call 911, and seek medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor. Some injuries, especially to the head or joints, aren't obvious right away.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in McCandless Township, PA
Anyone involved in a motorcycle crash in McCandless Township should get checked by a medical provider as soon as possible, even if they feel able to walk away. Adrenaline can mask pain from fractures, internal injuries or a concussion for hours. It's also worth requesting a copy of the official police report once it's filed, since that document often becomes important later for insurance or medical follow-up. Keeping notes on what happened while details are fresh, including weather, road conditions and anything witnesses said, can help fill in gaps once the investigation moves forward.
