Ringtown man, business owner, killed in motorcycle crash
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Frackville Police Patrolman Anthony Kankowski collects belongings scattered around a crashed Harley-Davidson.
GILBERTON – A Ringtown man and well-known business owner was killed in a motorcycle crash Saturday evening on the Gold Star Highway.
Frackville Police said 48-year-old Robert Babarsky, Ringtown, was headed northbound on the Route 924 towards Shenandoah on a 2014 Harley-Davidson when the crash happened.
Patrolman Anthony Kankowski discovered the crash around 6:05pm.
Kankowski said that Babarsky hydroplaned in a sudden downpour, losing control at the northern end of the construction zone, crossing the median and both southbound lanes before coming to a rest at the top of the Gilberton off-ramp.
Babarsky was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill – East Norwegian Street, where he succumbed to his injuries around 6:45pm, according to Deputy Coroner Andrew J. Szczyglak. Police said Babarsky was not wearing a helmet at the time.
Babarsky was the owner and operator of The Wagon Wheel in Ringtown, and formerly the same at Thunder Road in downtown Shenandoah.
Responding to the scene along with Frackville Police were Shenandoah and Mahanoy City Police, Shenandoah Ambulance, and firefighters from Gilberton’s Continental and Mahanoy Plane’s American fire companies.
Steve’s Towing removed the motorcycle.
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Great guy, great friend would do anything for anyone.
Great guy, great friend would do anything for anyone. Deeply misses
Please send me news, I am from Shenandoah, left there in 1958. Bobby was my yungest sisters boy. Very nice person, nice family, Thank You for posting this.
So sorry to hear this..my prayer go out to his family…
I’m in tears reading this because he was a good man. I’m so sorry for his family. They are all good people. RIP Bob.