A Shenandoah man was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle while walking to work just before dawn Sunday.

Shenandoah Police said David Gardner, 32, of 323 S. Jardin St. was struck around 5 a.m. while walking north on the Yatesville Road, about a half mile from the intersection with Route 54.

Gardner, who was treated at the scene by Shenandoah ALS, was flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, in the Life Flight helicopter for treatment of serious head and other injuries.

The driver of the car, identified by police as Sebastian Kopinetz, 18, of Yatesville, was not injured.

Shenandoah Police Patrolman Travis Bowman, the investigating officer, said Gardner, an apparent veteran of the United States Marine Corps, was walking to work at the nearby Schuylkill Energy Resources, Inc., when he was struck.

Kopinetz, a student at Bloomsburg University, was returning home from a school function when the crash happened.

Bowman said the investigation determined Kopinetz was driving north toward his home while Gardner was walking in the same direction.

After being hit with the front of the vehicle Bowman said Gardner was thrown into the windshield and then the side of the car before landing on the highway. Kopinetz stopped immediately after hitting the man and called 911, the officer said.

Although Shenandoah Police are conducting the investigation, state police Trooper John Minalda of the Frackville station, an accident reconstruction expert, was called to assist. Other troopers from the Frackville station were also at the scene.

The Yatesville Road was closed at the intersection of Route 54 for several hours while the investigation was conducted and the Kopinetz vehicle towed from the scene.

Bowman said the investigation into the crash is continuing.

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