KITTANNING (KDKA) — At a briefing late this afternoon at Kittanning State Police barracks, Trooper Dan Kesten says police are still looking for whoever hit 50-year-old Sgt. Ken Markilinski. He remains in stable condition.

Markilinski is a 24-year state police veteran.

State police say he was taken to Armstrong County Memorial Hospital and then flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian. His injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

KDKA’s Harold Hayes Reports:

There is no word on his condition, but he was reportedly alert, responsive and talking. Sgt. Markilinski was complaining of back and neck pain when he was brought in and was undergoing several tests.

According to state police, the accident happened when Sgt. Markilinski stopped on the southbound on-ramp to Route 28 from Route 422 eastbound in East Franklin Township.

KDKA’s Heather Abraham reports:

Authorities say he was trying to remove some debris from the roadway when he and his unmarked vehicle were hit by another vehicle, which was headed southbound.

“At that time, when he was out of his vehicle, another vehicle – who was also traveling southbound on that ramp – struck Sgt. Markiliniski,” said Trooper Dan Kesten, of the Pennsylvania State Police.

KDKA’s Brenda Waters reports:

By mid-morning, the debris remained in the middle of the ramp as state police investigators examined the scene. The accident happened around 6:30 a.m.

State police say the vehicle that struck the sergeant continued traveling south on Route 28. Officials working on putting together a vehicle description.

“It’s just a shame to see that people do not stop in certain situations,” said Trooper Kesten. “If anybody thinks that they hit something this morning and maybe they weren’t sure what they hit, we ask if you were in that area between 6:30 and 6:45, to please call police.”

Officials with PennDOT shut down the westbound Route 422 ramp to Route 28 south after the accident. The ramp has now been reopened.

Anyone with information on the crash is being as to contact state police in Kittanning at 724-543-2011.

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