NEW SALEM — John Ryan, 65, of New Salem was airlifted by LifeFlight to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester following a single car crash on Route 202 shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday.
According to Sgt. Steven Jankowski of the State Police Athol barracks, Ryan was texting while driving his 2008 Ford F-150, causing him to veer off the road.
“He went off the road and flipped it over a couple of times,” Jankowski said. “He probably realized what was happening, tried to correct it and overcorrected the vehicle.”
State police and Orange EMS responded. Jankowski said Ryan suffered numerous fractures and internal injuries, and Orange EMS requested LifeFlight.
Ryan was issued a citation for texting while driving, Jankowski said. No other vehicles were involved. The truck was extensively damage and was towed by Dick’s Auto Repair of Orange.
No other details about Ryan’s condition are available at this time.