Man Killed, Woman Injured In Moon Township ATV Crash

MOON TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - Police are looking into a deadly ATV crash in Moon Township.

According to police, the ATV crashed into a gate near University Boulevard around 11:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Police say the impact was so great that the driver and his passenger were immediately thrown from the ATV. The vehicle itself came to rest near a set of mailboxes approximately 300 yards away.

Ryan Eckelberry, 32, of Coraopolis, and his 48-year-old girlfriend were riding the ATV alongside the CSX railroad tracks next to the Ohio River.

Following the accident, the injured woman got the attention of a Valley Ambulance employee.

"A young woman who was reporting for work heard someone screaming, met with that screaming person and found out that she had just been in a crash along the railroad tracks," Moon Township Police Chief Leo McCarthy said.

Moon Township Police said the two had left Walker's Bar in Crescent Township and were headed to Coraopolis.

"It's along Route 51 in Crescent Township, which is a block or two away from the railroad bed," Chief McCarthy said.

The accident happened on private property and the two were trespassing.

Chief McCarthy said it's a place officers patrol because up until a few weeks ago, the yellow gates weren't in place.

"Historically, you could ride the vehicle along the railroad tracks. It's very rough riding with rough stones," Chief McCarthy said.

It's unclear if Eckelberry knew CSX had put the gates up, but police said his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit and he was going very fast when he crashed.

He suffered cardiac arrest and died at Allegheny General Hospital.

His passenger's condition isn't known, but she was able to communicate with first responders.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter