RIDGWAY TOWNSHIP: A Monday morning crash on a rural Elk County roadway claimed the life of a young local first responder and left another man injured, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

The single-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 10:33 a.m. Monday, October 20, along Grant Road in Ridgway Township, police said.

Troopers reported that a vehicle driven by Damian R. Patterson, 25, of Ridgway, was traveling north when it left the east side of the roadway for reasons that remain under investigation and struck a tree.

A passenger in the vehicle, Mason J. Neureiter, 20, of Ridgway, suffered fatal injuries in the crash. State police indicated Neureiter was wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.

Neureiter served the region in multiple public-safety roles. He was a volunteer firefighter with the Ridgway Fire Department and also worked as an Elk County 9-1-1 dispatcher, positions that placed him on the front lines of emergency response for residents throughout Elk County and surrounding communities.

Patterson sustained suspected minor injuries and was transported from the scene by Ridgway Ambulance Corporation, according to police. Troopers noted that Patterson was not wearing a seat belt.

Airbags deployed during the crash, police said.

Emergency personnel from Ridgway EMS, the Ridgway Fire Department, and D&T Towing assisted at the scene.

The loss has reverberated across the region’s close-knit first responder community, where volunteers and dispatchers often serve multiple roles to ensure coverage for emergencies across wide rural areas. In communities like Ridgway, DuBois, and surrounding townships, volunteer firefighters and emergency dispatchers are critical to maintaining rapid response times despite limited staffing and resources.

State police continue to investigate the cause of the crash. While speed is being examined as a possible factor, no final determination has been released.

Additional information, including memorial arrangements or public remembrances, had not been announced as of publication.