4 injured in motorcycle crash after annual Blessing of the Bikes event in Murrysville

MURRYSVILLE, Pa. — Four people were hurt in a chain reaction motorcycle crash after an annual Blessing of the Bikes event at Murrysville Alliance Church on Sunday afternoon. One person was treated on scene, one was taken to the hospital by ambulance, and two others were flown by helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Matt Saner was one of the people who were flown. He was discharged from the hospital early Monday morning.

“[I feel] like I was hit by a truck,” Saner told Channel 11′s Andrew Havranek. “But, I’m a lot better off than I could have been.”

He and some friends went to the Murrysville Alliance Church on Sunday for the 26th annual Blessing of the Bikes.

Police say there were hundreds of people in attendance.

“It was packed,” Saner said.

As Saner was leaving, police said the leader in his group lost control of his motorcycle causing a chain reaction crash.

Saner said he doesn’t remember exactly what happened, but shared what he could recall with Channel 11.

“One of the buddies was going around the bend. There was a lot of grass and pine cone needles on the road,” Saner said. “He hit that which caused him to lay his bike down. Then, I came around the bend and went into him.”

Saner needed 15 staples for a massive cut on his head. He fractured a bone under his eye socket, and has severe road rash from his shoulder down his arm and on his back.

His passenger was thrown from the motorcycle and was taken to the hospital by ambulance for emergency surgery.

“She had a laceration on her liver that was causing internal bleeding,” Saner said.

Saner’s passenger was wearing a helmet. He was not.

His sister said he got lucky.

“I guess when he had landed from the motorcycle what saved his head from hitting the pavement was the mirror of his bike,” said Kyleigh MacGregor, Saner’s sister.

Captain Tom Kusinsky of the Murrysville Police Department said helmets likely kept some bikers from being hurt even worse.

“I know it’s a choice, but I hope most people make the choice to wear that helmet,” Kusinsky said.

Saner has several months of recovery ahead.

As for riding again?

“I still plan to ride,” Saner told Channel 11. “I most likely will start wearing a helmet every time.”

Police say everyone involved in the accident is expected to be okay.

The Murrysville Alliance Church declined an interview as their senior pastor was not in the office on Monday.

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