MIDDLESEX TWP — A pair of related vehicle accidents Wednesday left two people injured and caused traffic tie-ups on and near Routes 8 and 228.

The first crash happened about 4 p.m. when Clifford Sines, 52, of Pittsburgh swerved his eastbound Ford F-150 pickup truck into the opposing lane to avoid traffic stopped on Route 228 west near Route 8, Middlesex Township police said.

The truck collided with a westbound Nissan pickup, driven by Edward Skirtich, 49, of Mars. After the collision, Sines’ truck traveled off the road and rolled down an embankment, police said,

The truck ended up on the driver’s side in a home’s yard. Sines was not hurt but Skirtich was taken by ambulance to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh with unknown injuries.

The crash closed the road for about an hour to allow wrecker crews to pull Sines’ truck up the embankment.

At 5:05 p.m., Alan Burstynowicz, 46, of Pittsburgh was injured when he crashed his motorcycle on Route 8 near Hammer’s Frozen Custard & Subs.

Police said Burstynowicz lost control of his southbound cycle when he was unable to stop for traffic that was stopped on the highway for the earlier wreck.

Burstynowicz laid down his bike and slid about 150 feet on the road. He suffered minor injuries including road rash and bruises, and was taken by ambulance to AGH.

Chief Mike Huber of the Middlesex Township Volunteer Fire Department described the motorcyclist as “conscious and alert” after the accident.

The northbound side of Route 8 ran both ways while the southbound side was closed for about 45 minutes following the second crash.

Penn Township police, Quality Ambulance and volunteer firefighters from Middlesex and Richland townships assisted at both wrecks.