The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

June 17, 2009

UPDATE: Motorcyclists killed in crash were Venango County educators


DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP — Two motorcyclists from Franklin were killed in a head-on collision Tuesday afternoon in Deer Creek Township, state police said.

Roy E. Sanner, 53, and Eva H. Struthers, 46, died after the crash at about 4:30 p.m. on Georgetown road in northern Mercer County.

Police said Sanner and Ms. Struthers were traveling west on separate motorcycles when an eastbound pickup driven by Roger Wayne Beggs Jr., 36, of Meadville, crossed the center line and struck both. Beggs’ truck continued off the road, struck a tree and rolled onto its side.

Sanner’s motorcycle slid about 20 feet before coming to a rest on the north berm. Struthers’ motorcycle slid into a cornfield off the roadway, police said.

Assistant Mercer County Coroner Cris H. Loutzenhiser said he pronounced Ms. Struthers dead at the scene. Police said Sanner was pronounced dead upon arrival at St. Elizabeth’s Health Center, Youngstown.

Sanner was athletic director of Valley Grove School District, Venango County, and Ms. Struthers was a science teacher in the district as well as girls tennis coach, the News-Herald, Franklin, reported.

Both Sanner and Ms. Struthers were wearing helmets and Beggs was wearing a seatbelt, police said.

Beggs suffered moderate injuries in the crash, police said. He was listed in satisfactory condition Wednesday at Meadville Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.