Two injured in motorcycle wreck
 
By Ryan Marshall, Times Staff Writer  Saturday, April 19, 2008
 
 
 
Ken Koons, staff photo
Two Maryland State Police helicopters are shown in a field in Snydersburg Friday at the scene of a motorcycle accident. Two people were airlifted due to injuries suffered.
 
 
Police: Driver intentionally crashed bike to avoid hitting piece of farm equipment 

SNYDERSBURG — A motorcycle driver and his passenger were flown to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore Friday after an accident along Md. 482 between the intersections of Gorsuch and Cape Horn roads.

The driver was flown to shock trauma in serious condition, while a female passenger was transported in critical condition, said Cpl. George Noyes of the Maryland State Police.
 
The motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Md. 482 when a piece of farm equipment, a large sprayer, pulled out into the roadway, Noyes said.

He said the motorcycle driver took the bike down to avoid a collision.

Police identified the driver of the motorcycle as William Sparks Sr., 53, from Keyser, W.Va. The passenger was identified as Etta Sparks, 53, also from Keyser.

The farm equipment was driven by Alen Werner, 36, of Hanover, Pa.

Etta Sparks was in critical condition Friday night, according to a shock trauma spokeswoman. William Sparks was listed in good condition.

Werner didn’t have any injuries, Noyes said.
 

The accident occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m.

The motorcycle lay on its side near the eastbound shoulder of Md. 482 while emergency crews from Westminster and Hampstead treated the injured riders.

Two state police helicopters landed in a corn field to the side of the road and waited before teams of paramedics and firefighters carried stretchers bearing the patients and loaded them on for the flight to shock trauma.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing, according to state police.

Reach staff writer Ryan Marshall at 410-857-7865 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 

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