According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville, troopers began receiving multiple 911 calls around 8:20 a.m. about an erratic driver operating a silver Ford Focus with its hood covering the windshield on Interstate 81 south near mile marker 127 in Ryan Township. Witnesses reported the vehicle exiting onto Route 61 southbound toward an active PennDOT construction zone.
Moments later, State Police were dispatched to the area of Skyline Drive (Route 61) and East Darkwater Road in New Castle Township for a crash with injuries and entrapment. When troopers arrived, they found a red Jeep Compass overturned in the southbound lane. The driver and passenger, both construction inspectors working in the area, told police their vehicle was struck from behind several times by the same Ford Focus seen earlier.
Investigators say the vehicle driven by Fowler rammed into multiple vehicles while traveling south on Route 61. One family reported being struck three times, forcing them to swerve into a construction area to escape further impact. Witnesses, including several construction workers, described the driver as a blonde-haired woman seen leaning out of her window to navigate with the hood blocking her view.
After the series of crashes near New Castle Township, the same vehicle continued south toward Pottsville, where it was involved in another multi-vehicle crash near Arch Street. Pottsville Police took Fowler into custody after she allegedly fled the scene on foot. Several people were transported to the hospital with injuries.
Fowler was charged by the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville with multiple counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person, among dozens of related traffic and criminal offenses. In total, she faces 51 charges, including eight counts of aggravated assault (F1), nine counts of simple assault (M2), ten counts of recklessly endangering another person (M2), multiple counts of disorderly conduct, and several traffic violations including DUI, reckless driving, and accidents involving attended vehicles.
She was arraigned Tuesday evening by Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli and committed to Schuylkill County Prison on $250,000 straight cash bail.
State Police emphasized that Fowler’s actions endangered numerous motorists and workers along the Route 61 corridor, including a child passenger in one of the struck vehicles.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the sequence of events and are seeking additional information.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has dash camera footage from Route 61 or Interstate 81 on the morning of November 11th is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville by calling (570) 874-5300.
