Tuesday, November 17, 2020

6 Vehicles Involved in Crash After Tractor Trailer Fails to Stop at Red Light Along Route 61

Six vehicles were damaged in a crash Friday morning on Route 61 in West Brunswick Township this past Friday.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Schuylkill Haven, the crash occurred around 6:30am, on Friday, November 13th, 2020 near the intersection of Centre Turnpike (Route 61) and Summer Valley Road (Route 895).

Police say 5 vehicles were stopped in the southbound lanes of Route 61 at the time of the crash when an International Harvester being driven by Perez Rojas Orlando, 36, of Tampa, FL failed to stop while traveling too fast on the downhill grade in rainy conditions.

The tractor trailer first sideswiped a Chevrolet Cruze being driven by Leonard Gills, 55, of Port Carbon then rear-ended a Toyota Rav4 being driven by Ronald Collins-West, 28, of Orwigsburg.

Williams' vehicle was pushed by the tractor trailer into a Chevrolet LCF 5500XD box truck being driven by Ronte Williams, 43, of Sicklerville, NJ and the tractor trailer continued until rear-ending a Honda CRV being driven by Susan Harrington, 68, of Schuylkill Haven.

Harrington's vehicle was then pushed into a Buick Encore being driven by Susan Gipe, 64, of Schuylkill Haven.

Harrington and Williams were reported to have suffered minor injuries in the crash and were transported to area hospitals for treatment

The tractor trailer, Toyota Rav4, Box Truck, and Honda CRV all sustained disabling damage and were towed from the scene.

The Chevrolet Cruz and Buick Encore sustained damage but were able to be driven away.

Orlando will be cited for the crash.

Assisting at the scene were the Deer Lake Fire Company, Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven area EMS, A&K Towing, and Hammer's Towing.