Motorcyclist Critically Injured After Falling Off Veterans Bridge
Four People Killed In Same Area
Tuesday, June 7, 2005
PITTSBURGH -- A man remains in critical condition after falling from a ramp known for accidents.The crash happened Monday on the Interstate 579 ramp.Police said Mark Purcell somehow lost control of his motorcycle and fell 200 feet onto Route 28 below.They said he was driving with a suspended license.Officials said that North Side area is known for accidents. It's the Veteran's Bridge ramp above Route 28.Greg Zitcovitch, 21, also died there while riding a motorcycle in 1992.And Monday's accident brought back a flood of memories for Zitcovich's mother, Bobbie Persichetti.Zitcovich would have been 35 on Thursday. His mother said she is still in disbelief and has Purcell's family in her thoughts.Since her own son's death, she has been working to have the dangerous ramp made safer.Persichetti said, "PennDOT, I'm still going to keep calling. You can choose not to return my call but I'm still calling. There is one more family that will be with me in this pursuit. And you will one day, in memory of all of our sons, put a fence on those two ramps. I guarantee that."In the past, PennDOT has said its design is not the problem. The real problem is speeding drivers.There have been other cyclists killed on this road.Edward Campbell, 27, of Penn Hills, was killed last month when he failed to navigate the curve.Campbell hit a wall and fell over the side striking a railroad bridge before landing on Route 28.And, in April 2001, Mark Mihalic, 27, of Pittsburgh, died when he went over the wall.In all, four people have died in this same area.
Previous Stories:
- June 6, 2005: Motorcyclist Falls 200 Feet Off Veterans Bridge
- May 16, 2005: Motorcyclist Falls To Death Off I-579 Ramp
Copyright 2005 by Wpxi.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.












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