A motorcyclist was critically injured around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday after colliding with a car that turned left in front of him on Jefferson Street in New Castle, according to police.
The rider, whose name has not been released, was airlifted to a hospital trauma center by Stat MedEvac after the crash, which occurred as he was traveling southbound and a woman driving northbound turned left into his path. The motorcyclist was reportedly performing a wheelie and attempting to beat a changing traffic light at the time of the incident, New Castle Police Chief David Cumo said.
The driver of the car was not injured. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Emergency responders from the New Castle Fire Department and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department assisted city police.
Authorities continue to investigate the crash, and no further details about any potential citations have been released. In similar incidents, Pennsylvania law generally places significant responsibility on left-turning drivers to yield to oncoming traffic that poses an immediate hazard.
The New Castle Police Department has dealt with multiple serious incidents involving motorcyclists this year, including a fatal e-bike collision in May.
Motorcyclists are disproportionately vulnerable in crashes, with fatalities occurring 27 times more often than among passenger vehicle occupants, according to PennDOT data. In 2025, Pennsylvania recorded 2,927 motorcycle crashes, resulting in 186 fatalities and 806 serious injuries. Additional updates on the condition of the injured rider are pending.