Zelienople Police Continue Investigation into Fatal Motorcycle Crash

continue to investigate a fatal motorcycle accident at the intersection of Route 288 and Route 588 early Tuesday morning.

Frederick Mark Konyak, 54, of Fombell, died when the motorcycle he was riding collided head on with an SUV driven by 29-year-old Steven Purvis, of Evans City, said Zelienople Police Chief Jim Miller.

Miller said Konyak was heading east on the highway at about 6 a.m. when he collided with Purvis, who was driving in the opposite direction.

Konyak was taken to in Cranberry, where he was pronounced dead, Miller said. Konyak died of blunt force trauma to the head, according to the Butler County Coroner’s office.

Miller said he was unsure if Konyak was wearing a helmet. One was found at the scene of the crash, according to the Butler County Coroner’s office.

The state police accident reconstruction team is assisting Zelienople police in their investigation, Miller said. The results will determine if any charges are filed in the incident.

“It will be a few weeks,” Miller said of the investigation.

Miller said Purvis was on his way to work at the JJ Kennedy Cement plant on Route 588 at the time of the crash. He said Purvis was not taken to the hospital by ambulance after the crash but that his family may have taken him later to be checked over for injuries.

According to his obituary on the Marshall Funeral Home site, Konyak retired in 2009 from Inmetco following 30 years of service. He was an equipment operator for Lindy Paving and was owner of Mark Konyak Excavating at the time of his death. 

Married to Karen Hickok Konyak since May 2000, Konyak enjoyed motorcycle riding, playing volleyball and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren, the obituary said.

Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday Aug. 9 at the Marshall Funeral Home in Ellwood City. Friends will also be received at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 on Friday, Aug. 10.