MUDDY CREEK TWP — A motorist died Tuesday night after colliding with a vintage farm tractor on Route 19.

According to state police in the Butler barracks, the incident occurred about 9 p.m. as the vehicles were traveling south. Just north of Portersville, a 2007 Jeep Liberty collided with the rear of a 1968 Oliver Farm Tractor driven by Zachary E. Sawyer, 33, of Butler.

The collision, which is being investigated, caused Sawyer’s tractor to travel off the road and hit a utility pole. The Jeep also went off the road and stopped in the yard at 1634 Perry Highway.

The driver of the Jeep, 76-year-old Earl A. Tindall of Ellwood City, was taken to Jameson Hospital in New Castle where he was pronounced dead, according to state police. Officials at the hospital could not be reached this morning.

Sawyer was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital with what investigators described as moderate injuries, including a possible head injury. Neither Sawyer nor hospital officials could not be reached for comment this morning.

Jay Wright, who saw the vehicles after the collision, said Sawyer’s injuries likely would have been worse if he had not been thrown off the tractor before hitting the pole.

“He’s extremely fortunate he was knocked off the tractor. I’m glad to hear that he’s doing well,” said Wright, who knows Sawyer from local tractor-related activities.

Wright is on the board of the Portersville Steam Show, which will run from Thursday through Sunday at the show grounds about a half mile from the site of the collision.

Wright said he never spoke to Sawyer so he cannot say for sure he was driving his tractor to the grounds. It is not unusual for tractors to be driven to the show, which could include up to 2,000 tractors and 15,000 spectators.