Friday, January 13, 2023

Two Flown After Route 61 Crash near Orwigsburg

Two people were flown after a serious crash on Route 61 near Orwigsburg.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Schuylkill Haven, the crash occurred around 5:50pm, Friday, on Route 61 near Cinema Boulevard in West Brunswick Township near Orwigsburg.

Troopers say the crash occurred as Joseph Pierre, 58, of Pottsville was traveling north on Route 61 in an Infiniti QX60 behind Ethan Green, 19, of Orwigsburg in an Audi A4.

Green slowed to make a left turn into a shopping center when Pierre failed to yield when he rearended Green.

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage with both drivers having to be extricated.  Both drivers also sustained reported serious injuries and were transported to helicopters and transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital.

State Police say they with cite Pierre for following too closely. 

Both vehicles were towed from the scene by Womer's Towing.  Assisting State Police at the scene were Schuylkill EMS, Hamburg EMS, Auburn EMS, Deer Lake Fire and Fire Police, and Orwigsburg Fire and Fire Police.

Route 61 was closed for approximately an hour while the scene was cleared.

Photos by Todd Bernhard