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Retired priest dies in head-on Rt. 901 crash with tanker claims MC's Rev. Sheetz
Published: October 18, 2009
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Frank Andruscavage/Times - Shamrock Photo A Chevy Blazer driven by the retired Rev. Stephen A. Sheetz sits on Route 901 near Lavelle after it collided with a fuel oil delivery truck, on its side in the background. Rev. Sheetz died later at Saint Catherine Medical Center Fountain Springs.
LAVELLE - A retired Mount Carmel priest died Saturday after the sport utility vehicle he was driving collided head-on with a fuel oil delivery truck on Route 901 near this Schuylkill County village.
Stephen A. Sheetz, 78, of Mount Carmel, was taken to Saint Catherine Medical Center Fountain Springs after the crash and pronounced dead there at 3:40 p.m., according to Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Carol A. Bosavage, Frackville.
The driver of the fuel oil truck, Rodney R. Unger, 70, of Leck Kill, and a passenger in Sheetz' vehicle, Kenneth J. Fetterolf, 71, of Rebuck, were also taken to Saint Catherine, where both were treated for their injuries and released.
The 2:43 p.m. crash shut down Route 901 just north of Deep Creek Road for more
than six hours Saturday as firefighters from Ashland and Mount Carmel pulled both drivers from their vehicles and PennDOT crews cleaned up fuel oil that spilled onto the highway.
A supervisor at the Schuylkill County Communications Center said the crash was reported at 2:27 p.m. in the area of Route 901 and Deep Creek Road.
Troopers said the crash occurred as Sheetz was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Blazer west when he crossed the road and struck the eastbound 2001 truck, owned by Troutman Brothers Inc.
The truck overturned and came to a stop on its right side with Sheetz' vehicle traveling past the truck and stopping in the center lane of the road, facing west.
Medical helicopters were unable to fly Saturday due to weather conditions. However, Geisinger Medical Center Life Flight crew, based a few miles away at Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport near Minersville, were brought to the scene to assist paramedics from Shenandoah ALS with treating the victims.
A dispatcher at the Schuylkill Haven station said the road was closed because another tanker was brought to the scene to allow the transfer of fuel from the damaged truck before it could be righted and towed.
Firefighters from Ashland, Lavelle, Butler Township and Gordon assisted at the scene, along with Ashland EMS, Mount Carmel rescue and area fire police.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Trooper Alyssa Becker at 593-2000.
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