A 19-year-old former Norwin High School student and a 16-year-old Norwin sophomore who were killed over the weekend in a dirt bike crash were mourned by classmates and friends Monday while donations poured in to help the families.
The victims, Adam Bilinsky, 19, and Colin Bargiel, 16, both of North Huntingdon, were on a dirt bike traveling down a hill on Ridge Road when the crash occurred as the bike went off the roadway and over an embankment, according to authorities.
The bodies of Bilinsky and Bargiel were discovered Sunday afternoon near the intersection of Abrams Drive. Both were ejected from the bike, the Westmoreland County Coroner said.
Neither the North Huntingdon police nor the Westmoreland County Coroner have said which teen was driving the dirt bike at the time of the crash. The pair, whom the coroner said were not wearing helmets, were pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday.
Investigators spray-painted white lines where the dirt bike went off the road. Tire tracks continued atop the hillside for about 20 yards, before going over the embankment, right before the driveway to 12440 Ridge Road. The scene was about two miles from Coulterville Road, where Bilinsky lived.
Students and friends of the victims were at the crash site Sunday and Monday, some of whom left flowers where the accident occurred.
One of Bilinsky’s friends, Zachary Corlazzoli, 19, of North Huntingdon, said that Bilinsky was an experienced dirt bike rider.
”He had been riding a long time all around here. He’s probably been riding on Ridge Road for half a decade,” Zachary Corlazzoli said.
“I thought he had just fallen and broke his arm, at first. It’s a real shock,” Corlazzoli said. They were in Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts together, he said.
Nick Rodgers, a sophomore at Norwin, said he was friends with both victims and both were dirt bike riders.
“He (Bilinsky) was one of my best friends. He was big into fishing and (dirt bike) riding,” Rodgers said.
Bargiel was a member of the Norwin Youth Football League, according to the organization’s Facebook page.
“Colin, also was known for his time as a dedicated athlete in the NYFL as #64, leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond the football field. As friends, family, and community members come together to honor his memory,” the organization said.
Jack Silvis, whose Abrams Drive home is nearby, said he was not aware of any crash until he heard his dog bark and saw police cars across the road about 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
A lot of people ride dirt bikes in the wooded area, and there have been several crashes on the road, Silvis said. He’s lived there for 50 years, he said.
A GoFundMe Page started for Bargiel’s family was started by his relatives and had raised $28,845 as of late Monday night, topping its $16,000 goal.
Rodgers set up a GoFundMe Page for the family of Bilinsky, raising $12,745 by late Monday night. topping its $10,000 goal.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.