ROCKLAND TWP., Pa. (EYT) — A local man was killed in a head-on crash that occurred on U.S. Route 322 in Venango County on Tuesday night.

According to Franklin-based State Police, the victim of the crash was identified as 65-year-old Willard A. Conner, of Rimersburg.

The crash happened around 6:11 p.m. on Tuesday, December 11, involving Conner and 42-year-old John J. Michael, of Emlenton.

According to police, the crash occurred on the Clarion side of the Van bridge, in Rockland Township, Venango County, as Conner was traveling eastbound on U.S. 322 in a 2002 Dodge Neon.

Michael was traveling westbound in a 2008 Saturn Aura.

For unknown reasons, the Dodge Neon traveled into the westbound lane of Route 322 and struck the Saturn Aura in the westbound lane.

The Saturn was attempting to avoid the collision as was evidential on the scene.

After the collision, the Dodge spun counterclockwise back across the eastbound lane and came to its final place of rest on the south berm of the roadway.

The Saturn came to its final place of rest facing west on the north berm of the roadway against the guide rails.

Venango County Coroner Christina Rugh pronounced Conner deceased on the scene at 6:56 p.m. due to blunt force trauma.

Community Ambulance Service transported Michael to UPMC Northwest for injuries of unknown severity.

Three passengers in Michael’s vehicle — 41-year-old Amy J. Palmer, a 17-year-old male, and a one-year-old male, all of Parker — were using seat belts/child safety seat and were not injured.

U.S. 322 was closed for approximately two hours. Eastbound traffic was detoured onto Hill City Road, and westbound traffic was detoured onto State Route 38.

Rockland Volunteer Fire Department and Seneca Volunteer Fire Department were also on the scene.

STAT MedEvac was called off after being placed on standby.

Venango Towing and Minich’s Towing removed the vehicles from the scene.