Published: July 13, 2008 10:45 pm      

Weekend wrecks claim six

PORTAGE — Four Portage-area men were killed in a horrific, two-vehicle accident just before 3:30 a.m. Sunday on Shady Spring Road in Portage Township, and two recent Ligonier Valley High School graduates perished in a separate crash in Westmoreland County later Sunday morning.

The four Portage-area men, all in their 20s, were riding in a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, said Jeffrey Lees, Cambria County chief deputy coroner.

Another passenger was critically injured and admitted to Memorial Medical Center. Two occupants of a 1989 Chevrolet pickup were injured and taken to Memorial.

Those killed were identified by Lees as Richard J. McKrush Jr., 23, the driver; and passengers Joseph Gordon Krug Jr., 25, Eric Secriskey, 25, and Ryan J. Zunich, 26.

Krug’s colorful personality, knack for music and dedication to Sacred Heart Church made him popular, said his father, Joseph Krug Sr.

“He could have run for mayor of Portage and won,” Krug’s father said.

Krug played the accordion in an Irish band, had served as choir director and organist at the church and wanted to be a priest since he was a child. He spent two years at seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

In the past couple of years, Krug was working to continue his college education and planned to attend St. Vincent College in Latrobe.

“The only thing I can think about his leaving us is that maybe the good Lord needed another accordion player in heaven,” his father said.

Portage Area High School football coach Gary Gouse said Krug was the first football player to join the team and play in the high school band.

“He was the starting center, and at halftime, he would put on his hat and play the drums,” he said.

Gouse said he coached Krug, Zunich and McKrush.

“All three were very good football players,” he said, adding that he lifted weights with Zunich.

“(Zunich) was a little quieter, and very loyal,” Gouse said, adding that Zunich still made a point to watch the high school team when he could. “After all the years, he stuck with being a Mustangs fan.”

McKrush also was a standout athlete. In 2003, he was named to The Associated Press Class A first team as an offensive lineman. He started playing football in fourth grade as a member of Portage Stallions, according to The Tribune-Democrat archives.

He also was a wrestler in high school and threw the shot put, discus and javelin as member of the track and field team.

“It’s a tragedy,” Gouse said.

“There are just some things we can’t understand.”

McKrush, Krug and Secriskey were pronounced dead at the scene, and Zunich died at the hospital, Lees said. All died of multiple upper-torso injuries, and none was wearing a seat belt, he added.

The Cavalier was eastbound and the pickup was westbound when the accident took place at the crest of a hill, Lees said.

“It was one of the most violent accidents that I have seen,” he said.

Alcohol and speed appear to have been factors, he added.

The occupants of both vehicles had to be extricated by firefighters, Lees said.

A state police accident-reconstruction team was at the scene Sunday morning trying to piece together what had happened, Lees said. State police in Ebensburg had no further information Sunday.

Two Ligonier-area teenagers were killed in a one-vehicle crash in Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, reported at 5:48 a.m. Sunday, state police said.

Brandon J. Boyd, 18, and Ross J. Gibson, 19, were headed south on state Route 271 when the Saturn Ion Boyd was driving crossed the road into the oncoming traffic lane and then hit a guardrail, police said. The car became airborne and hit some trees. Neither teen was wearing a seatbelt and both were ejected, according to a police release.

Boyd was an accomplished football player, being named twice as an Associated Press Class A first-team defensive back in 2006 and 2007. He also was a Pennsylvania Football News first-team all-state defensive back in 2007 and 2005 and a second-team selection in 2006.

He was a Tribune-Democrat first-team All-Area selection and recently played in the Ken Lantzy Finest 40 All-Star football game. He held the Heritage Conference interception record of 10 and Ligonier Valley’s career interception mark of 17.