The driver who died Saturday after crashing head-on into another vehicle in Prospect, seriously injuring an elderly couple, was found with suspected heroin and other drug paraphernalia, authorities said.

Richard J. Duncan, 42, of Perry Township, Lawrence County, was killed about 11:20 a.m. when his westbound Toyota Corolla veered in the oncoming lane on Route 422 and slammed into a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, according to state police.

He was not wearing a seat belt.

The pickup driver, Dorothy Moses, 75, of Butler was flown by medical helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Her husband, Charles Moses, 75, of Butler, a passenger in the truck, was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital before being transferred to AGH.

Dorothy and Charles Moses suffered "severe" injuries, police said. Both were wearing seat belts. Their conditions were not known this morning.

The impact of the collision near the Big Butler Fairgrounds was so violent, authorities said, that Prospect volunteer firefighters had to cut through the wreckage of both vehicles to reach the three occupants.

Butler County Coroner William Young III, who pronounced Duncan dead at the scene, praised the work of firefighters. An autopsy determined Duncan died of severe chest injuries.

Investigators are awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

Police, however, suspect drugs may have been a factor in the crash.

Troopers found four stamp bags of suspected heroin in Duncan's wallet, police said. He also had a syringe and a spoon in his pants pockets.

"Whenever we locate drugs and drug paraphernalia at the scene of a crash," said police Cpl. Tim Morando, "that's something we look at as a possible cause."

Police said they believe Duncan also was driving erratically for at least 10 miles prior to the collision.

"Witnesses followed him from the Mitchell Hill Road exit," Morando said, "and they reported that he was all over the road."

There was no sign that Duncan tried to apply his brakes before his car collided with the pickup.

The crash closed the road for about 90 minutes.