A summer evening ride ended in sudden disaster Saturday for two well-known Warfordsburg residents when an SUV turned directly into their path along a rural stretch of road in Saint Thomas Township.
Ross DeShong, 54, was driving his 2023 Indian motorcycle eastbound on Lincoln Way West around 5:07 p.m., with 50-year-old Paula Young riding as his passenger. Weather conditions were clear as the couple traveled through Franklin County on what was supposed to be a routine weekend trip.
Everything changed in an instant at the intersection of Hade Road. A Buick Encore heading westbound on Lincoln Way West attempted to make a left turn onto Hade Road, pulling straight into the lane occupied by DeShong’s motorcycle.
The oncoming motorcycle had no time or room to avoid the vehicle. The violent impact threw both DeShong and Young from the bike onto the roadway, causing massive bodily trauma to both riders.
First responders rushed to the scene within minutes of the emergency call, but neither DeShong nor Young survived the severe injuries suffered in the collision. Paramedics pronounced both dead at the crash site.
Word of the fatal wreck quickly reached Warfordsburg, leaving family members, neighbors, and close friends struggling to process the sudden loss of the couple. Local residents described them as warm, generous people who were deeply rooted in their small community.
Pennsylvania State Police troopers closed down the area around Lincoln Way West and Hade Road for hours while crash reconstruction officers examined the scene. State police confirmed that their investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the crash remains ongoing.
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