A 32-year-old Ellwood City man was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for a suspected serious injury following a Monday evening, July 1, crash near mile marker 96 on Interstate 79 northbound in Muddy Creek Township.

Benjamin Keeler was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital after he was ejected from his vehicle, which had struck an embankment and rolled multiple times, according to a crash report from state police.

The crash, reported around 8 p.m., prompted the road to close for more than four-and-a-half hours, according to the Butler County 911 Center.

According to the crash report, Keeler’s vehicle, a Cadillac SRX, was traveling north in the right lane when a Jeep Renegade, driven by Aaliyah Petrarulo, attempted to merge into the lane in an attempt to exit at mile marker 96.

When Keeler attempted to avoid striking the Jeep, his vehicle began to rotate clockwise while traveling along the ramp, exited the ramp and struck an embankment, police said.

Upon striking the embankment, the vehicle began to roll counterclockwise, and Keeler was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled, police said.

The Cadillac was towed from the scene, while the Jeep was not damaged in the crash, the crash report said.

State police responded to the scene, as well as several volunteer fire departments including Harmony, Prospect and Portersville.

Eagle assignment editor Tracy Leturgey contributed to this report.