ACCIDENT Man killed, 2nd injured in late crash

The riderless motorcycle careened back onto the road and hit another cyclist.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- One New Castle man was killed and another seriously injured in a three-motorcycle crash at Pa. Routes 65 and 388 in Shenango Township.
Christopher Sojak, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene by Lawrence County Coroner Russell Noga.
John Librandi, 36, was flown to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Presbyterian Hospital with head injuries. Shenango Township Ptl. Darrin Cwynar, who investigated the crash, said Librandi was listed in critical condition Saturday evening.
Robert Walton, 32, of Ellwood City, also was in the accident, but was not injured.
Bizarre circumstances
Here is what authorities think occurred:
Sojak and Librandi were apparently riding together northbound on Route 65 when Sojak lost control of his cycle at about 2:20 a.m. Saturday. He struck a speed limit sign beside the road and continued on and hit the west side of a residence, where Sojak was thrown off the bike. The cycle then careened back onto the road 20 or 25 feet farther north and struck Librandi, causing him to lose control. He was thrown from his cycle onto the southbound lane of the highway and the bike came to rest off the southbound side of the road.
At this point just after the two cycles crashed, Walton, who was southbound on Route 65, struck Librandi lying on the road. It was not clear whether Walton tried to lay his bike down before or after he hit Librandi.
It was just coincidence that all three vehicles involved were motorcycles, Cwynar said.
Cwynar said it is not known what caused Sojak to lose control. There were no adverse weather conditions, the officer said.
He said officials should have a better idea what happened when the crash is reconstructed in a couple of days, and when an autopsy of Sojak's body has been completed.
alcorn@vindy.com