Vandergrift motorcyclist seriously injured after colliding with truck in Ligonier Township, police say

A Vandergrift motorcyclist was seriously injured and flown by medical helicopter to a Johnstown hospital Tuesday after colliding with a truck along Route 30 in Ligonier Township.

The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. along the highway stretch of Route 30 between Laughlintown and the Laurel Mountain Summit, east of Ligonier Borough, police said.

Ligonier Borough police Chief John Berger said when first responders arrived at the scene they found the motorcyclist, John J. Kemerer, 31, lying on the highway with “severe injuries.” He was airlifted from the scene to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown for treatment.

During the crash investigation, police said they seized several grams of suspected methamphetamine, 10 stamp bags of suspected heroin and a baggie of marijuana from the motorcyclist. They also discovered Kemerer was in possession of a handgun that had no serial number, police said.

“Kemerer is a convicted felon and cannot possess a firearm,” Berger said. “The motorcycle had a bad license plate on it and the motorcycle operator had a DUI-suspended license.”

Berger said the motorcycle operator will be criminally charged after he is released from the hospital.

The 18-year-old driver of the truck, Spencer J. Svonavec of Rockwood, suffered multiple bruises and cuts, but declined treatment, Berger said.

According to online dockets, Kemerer pleaded guilty to fleeing and eluding and reckless driving charges in 2019 filed by police in Vandergrift and was sentenced to serve a 5- to 23-month sentence.

The crash investigation is ongoing.