Kids & Family

Pine-Richland Community Rallies Around Injured Teacher

Megan Kruth suffered a serious head injury after a biking accident.

As Pine-Richland teachers headed back to school Monday for an in-service day program prior to the start of the 2013-14 school year, they were down one member. 

But that doesn’t mean they forgot about her.

Many of the staff members sported bright blue “IronMeg” T-shirts in honor of Megan Kruth.

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A longtime teacher at Hance Elementary School, Kruth, 41, was seriously injured in a biking accident Aug. 4 along Babcock Boulevard in Pine.

John Mayberry, principal at Hance Elementary, said the details of the accident aren’t clear, but it appears Kruth fell off the bike for an unknown reason and struck her head.

Find out what's happening in Pine-Richlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the Caringbridge.org journal being kept by Kruth’s sister, Erin, doctors had to remove part of Kruth’s skull to relieve the pressure caused by the swelling and bleeding of her brain.

Kruth, who initially was in a coma, was wearing a helmet during the accident. 

She is now recovering at Allegheny General Hospital. In the Caring Bridge journal, Erin said Kruth is participating in physical and speech therapy. She called her sister’s progress in the three weeks since the accident “nothing short of amazing.”

“She is improving and getting stronger everyday!” Erin wrote Sunday. “It is hard for Meg to see her progress and to realize how far she has come, and so sometimes she gets frustrated, but we couldn’t be more proud of her!” 

Mayberry described Kruth, who has been with Pine-Richland for close to two decades, as a dedicated and compassionate educator known for her love of biking, swimming and long-distance running.

“This is a big blow to Hance, because Megan is an exceptionally strong teacher,” he said. “She works very hard and puts in a lot of extra hours around here.”

A long-term substitute has been put in place to cover Kruth’s classes during her recovery, Mayberry said. He was unsure when Kruth would be able to return to the district.

“We do expect her to be out for quite awhile,” he said.

Mayberry said the school and several teachers are closely monitoring Kruth’s progress. While the school hasn’t yet put together a formal fundraiser to support Kruth, Mayberry said that doesn’t mean won’t happen in the future.

He added Kruth is one of the toughest people he knows.

“She is truly one of the best,” he said.

To follow Kruth's progress on the Caring Bridge Journal, click here. 

Want to leave a message of support for Megan Kruth? Share it in the comment section below. 


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