State police investigating fatal car-dirt bike crash in Waterford Township

Pennsylvania State Police troopers are continuing their investigation into a car-dirt bike crash in Waterford Township on Saturday night that killed a Waterford man.

Thomas E. Bengel, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:39 p.m. Saturday following the accident, which was reported shortly before 10 p.m. in the 11500 block of Route 19, according to state police and the Erie County Coroner's Office.

According to state police, Bengel was operating a dirt bike that was traveling north on Route 19 when it is believed to have crossed into the southbound lane and collided head-on with a Ford Focus that was traveling south. The dirt bike was being operated without a front headlight, troopers wrote in a news release issued after the accident.

The driver of the Ford Focus, a 65-year-old Corry man, was released from the scene with minor injuries, state police reported.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Waterford man killed in car-dirt bike crash in Waterford Township