Unity landscaper, off-duty state trooper recognized for rescue of 78-year-old Hempfield woman after crash

Unity landscaper Mike Uschock said he wasn’t sure what had just happened Nov. 17 when he saw an overturned SUV “just teetering back and forth on its side” in a large drainage culvert behind Greengate Centre Shopping Plaza in Hempfield.

“I was pulling in right behind and I saw the whole thing, and she just drove right into the trench,” said state police Cpl. Paul Mumau, who works in the gaming division of the state law enforcement agency. He was off duty when the accident occurred.

On Tuesday, state police honored Uschock and Mumau at the Greensburg barracks for rescuing 78-year-old Joan K. Mahanes from the 6 p.m. wreck along Hempfield Plaza Boulevard, off North Greengate Road.

Uschock said when he climbed out of his landscaping truck, got on top of the SUV and looked into it, he saw the semiconscious Hempfield woman “was upside down, falling toward the passenger seat, being strangled by her seat belt around her neck.”

“A few more minutes and who knows what would have happened,” Uschock said.

Uschock said he was thankful when he looked and saw Mumau, who was in street clothes, had climbed into the trench and onto the driver’s side of the overturned SUV to assist.

“I told him (Mumau) we needed to get a knife first thing … so she wouldn’t be strangled, and (Mumau) said, “Here’s one.” And he pulled it out and handed it to me, and I was able to cut it,” Uschock said.

Mumau said Uschock’s maneuvers around the unstable 2019 Buick Encore led him to believe “he was an experienced firefighter or something.”

Trooper Ryan Ilich arrived on the scene, climbed on top of the SUV and held the doors open as Uschock and Mumau lifted the injured woman to safety. She was checked out by Mutual Aid paramedics and treated and released from Excela Health Westmoreland hospital in Greensburg.

Grapeville volunteer firefighters also assisted at the scene.

Contacted Tuesday, Mahanes said she was glad both men were honored.

“That’s really nice, and they really deserve it coming to help like they did,” Mahanes said.

State police Troop A Cmdr. Joseph A. Loughran said Ilich nominated Uschock and Mumau for the commendations.

“I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of Pennsylvania State Police, to express our most sincere gratitude for your selfless actions,” Loughran said.

Capt. Kyle R. Teter, director of the state police bureau of gaming enforcement, also recognized the pair.