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Woman listed in critical condition, seven others injured after Route 147 crash
Published: November 20, 2009
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justin strawser/Staff Photo The top portion of the green Chevrolet Cavalier involved in the three-vehicle accident on Route 147 outside Sunbury was ripped off by rescue personnel to get to its five occupants Thursday afternoon. The Cavalier struck a Chevrolet Venture and then crashed head on into the path of a GMC Canyon pick-up truck, seen in the background. Eight people were injured, two being transported by Life Flight to Geisinger Medical Center.
justin strawser/Staff Photo The top portion of the green Chevrolet Cavalier involved in the three-vehicle accident on Route 147 outside Sunbury was ripped off by rescue personnel to get to its five occupants Thursday afternoon. Eight people were injured, two being transported by Life Flight to Geisinger Medical Center.
UPPER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP - The driver of a pick-up truck involved in a three-vehicle crash near Sunbury Thursday afternoon was listed in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Thurday evening, according to a hospital nursing supervisor.
Ellen E. Clement, 44, of Dalmatia, was driving a 2005 GMC Canyon south on Route 147, when a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, driven north by a 16-year-old male from Sunbury, entered the southbound lane and struck a 2001 Cherolet Venture before crashing head-on into the truck.
Cpl. Curtis Cooke reported that a green Chevrolet Cavalier was observed traveling north on Route 147 near Brush Valley Road shortly before 4 p.m. The vehicle was reported weaving on the road, but it was unknown what may have caused the car to swerve.
Also injured in the crash were Judy L. Dyer, 42, of Dalmatia, and a 17-year-old male from Dalmatia, both of whom were passengers in the Venture; two 16-year-old males from Sunbury, a 16-year-old female from Northumberland and a 15-year-old female from Sunbury, all of whom were passengers in the Cavalier, and the driver of the Cavalier, who was ejected from the vehicle, according to state police at Stonington. Everyone who was injured was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. The driver of the Cavalier and an unidentified person were transported by LifeFlight, according to earlier reports from police.
Brian E. Dyer, 43, of Dalmatia, the driver of the Venture, was not injured.
Road closed
Route 147 was closed for six hours while the state police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Specialist Unit, an accident-reconstruction team, determined the cause of the crash, according to Cooke. The team is often called in to recreate severe or fatal accidents to help officials create a thorough investigation.
The Cavalier had come to a stop in the middle of the highway, the front half crushed. The top of the car, sitting several feet from the vehicle, had been removed by rescue personnel so they could reach people trapped inside.
The Canyon lay on its side in the ditch near the railroad tracks. The hood was ripped off and the front window was cracked.
The Venture experienced the least amount of damage. The back driver side tire was flat and the back bumper had fallen off in the collision.
The accident remains under investigation.
In addition to the state police, responding emergency personnel included Frienship Fire Company of Sunbury, Sunbury Fire Department, Friendship Hose Ambulance, Upper Augusta Volunteer Fire Company, Sunbury Police Department, Americus Hose Company of Sunbury, AREA Services, and Shamokin Dam Fire Department. Trooper Marc Yemzow of the state police at Stonington is in the investigating officer. Paul's Auto Body towed the vehicles from the scene.
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