Pedestrian, 18, struck, killed in Unity
Just last week, Adam Dunn and friends pulled a goofy, good-hearted gag at a Latrobe bowling alley by playing while decked out in loud, tight pants, vintage shirts and dirt-bike helmets.
"He was a real charmer, he had tons of friends, he was free-spirited and he had a beautiful smile," said Adam's mother, Andrea Dunn.
But the holiday season took a tragic turn for Adam Dunn's family Sunday when the 18-year-old of 509 Spring St., Latrobe, died after he was struck by two cars while apparently searching for a cell phone on Marguerite Lake Road in Unity.
Andrea Dunn and Adam's father, William J. Dunn, and Adam's younger sister, 14-year-old Chelsea, mourned the loss of the young man yesterday while state police continue to investigate the chain of events that led to his death.
Dunn's unrelated friend, George Dunn, no age or address given, sustained moderate injuries when the pair was struck by two vehicles while they were walking in the two-lane road's southbound lane, said Trooper David J. McClintock of Greensburg state police.
The accident at 4:01 a.m. happened when a 1998 Dodge Dakota Sport driven by Paul Martin King, 26, no address given, and a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Scott Michael Rodman, 23, no address given, were traveling south on the road about five miles east of Greensburg and three-fourths of a mile north of Route 130, McClintock said.
Adam Dunn and George Dunn apparently were walking on the roadway in the southbound lane trying to locate the phone when both vehicles hit them, police and Andrea Dunn said. It was unclear whose phone they were looking for.
Both King and Rodman immediately stopped their vehicles and helped the pedestrians, McClintock said.
"The first driver said he felt something hit his left side-view mirror and the second driver told me something hit his windshield," said Bob Clark, a dairy farmer whose home is closest to the accident scene.
Westmoreland County Deputy Coroner Gerry Fritz pronounced Adam Dunn dead at the scene at 5:24 a.m. Results of an autopsy were unavailable yesterday.
George Dunn was flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, McClintock said. The hospital had no information on his condition yesterday.
State police accident reconstruction specialists were at the scene well into the morning.
Both Adam Dunn -- who was completing requirements for a diploma from Greater Latrobe Area School District through home-schooling -- and George Dunn -- a 2006 Greater Latrobe graduate -- were frequent visitors to Clark's house. Both were good friends of Clark's son, 16-year-old Brad Firmstone.
Firmstone -- who met Adam and George several years ago through a shared interest in dirt-bike riding -- said Adam in particular was known for his sense of humor.
"He always made everybody laugh," said Firmstone while standing in the doorway of his home yesterday. "This doesn't seem real right now."
Funeral arrangements for Adam Dunn are being handled by John J. Lopatich Funeral Home Inc. at 601 Weldon St., Latrobe.
