TREVORTON - A Langhorne man was killed in a Sunday morning off-road accident in an area known as "the sand pits" in Zerbe Township.
Richard Kyle McManus, 22, of Langhorne, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 2 a.m. accident at an area locally known as Smurf's Pond, approximately 2.5 miles east of State Route 2044, which connects West Cameron and Zerbe townships, after an off-road vehicle rolled down an embankment.
State police at Stonington reported that McManus was riding as a passenger in a reconstructed off-road vehicle driven by Eric R. Vornhold, 30, of Langhorne, on a late night ride. The vehicle was traveling through the mud and attempted to climb a hill.
Trevorton Fire Chief Ed Reed said that the hill may have been about 25 feet high, but said the late night ride was nothing new.
"They are riding all the time out here, that was nothing new," Reed said.
In the climbing attempt, police say the vehicle rolled over, but while no one was ejected, McManus was injured. A scanner report indicated that after emergency crews were called, CPR instructions were provided to a friend of the victim.
The vehicle was equipped with safety equipment, including five point harnesses in the front and seat belts in the back. Police say that Vornhold was wearing the harness while another passenger, Shawn Moore, 25, of Langhorne, was wearing the lap belt in the back. The harness on McManus' seat was not used.
A helicopter was called to the scene, but Reed said that weather conditions were not favorable for flight and transport.
Emergency personnel navigated muddy and rutted road conditions to reach the scene, while others staged at the "S" turn on route 2044. McManus was transported half-way out of the woods to the staging area by a personal off-road vehicle, where Northumberland County Deputy Coroner James Gotlob pronounced him dead at 4:10 a.m.
Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley said that an autopsy is scheduled for today at 11:30 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, and that a joint investigation by state police, the District Attorney's office and the Coroner's office is continuing.