Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville and Schuylkill Haven released information on 31 separate crashes across Schuylkill County, including a fatal Interstate 81 collision, injury crashes, hit-and-runs, and numerous incidents involving deer.
The crashes detailed below occurred between September 26 and November 4, 2026, and are listed from most recent to oldest. All information is according to state police.
Tamaqua: Van Strikes Deer on Owl Creek Road
November 4, 6:48 p.m. — Michael E. Morgans, 57, of Hazle Township, was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Express on Owl Creek Road when a deer entered the roadway near the area of 371 Owl Creek Road.
The van struck the deer, damaging its grille and headlight assemblies. Morgans was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. The van remained drivable, and the deer ran from the roadway.
Ryan Township: Freightliner and Volvo Collide on Route 54
November 3, 12:30 p.m. — A 2017 Freightliner driven by Elias M. Chinea Gonzalez, 28, of Cape Coral, Florida, struck a 2026 Volvo driven by Cealinn L. McGroarty, 24, of New Boston, while both vehicles traveled west on Barnesville Drive near Elm Avenue.
McGroarty and a passenger, Marcus E. Ashfield, 23, of Barnesville, were not injured. Chinea Gonzalez also was uninjured. The Volvo sustained disabling damage and was towed by ACT Towing. Police cited Chinea Gonzalez for driving at an unsafe speed.
Walker Township: Fatigue Contributes to Clamtown Road Crash
November 2, 12:07 p.m. — Anthony E. Maccarone, 33, of Leesport, was driving a 2017 Mazda3 west on Clamtown Road near Wildcat Road when he became affected by fatigue and crossed into the opposing lane, police said.
The Mazda struck an eastbound 2013 Ford driven by Jacob R. Ziegenfuss, 27, of Port Carbon. According to the crash narrative, Maccarone sustained a minor head injury, received treatment from Tamaqua EMS, and declined further medical attention.
Ziegenfuss was not injured. Both vehicles were towed. Maccarone was cited for a lane violation.
Butler Township: SUV Strikes Deer on Route 901
November 2, 1:56 a.m. — Jhon O. Eras Mendoza, 30, of Shamokin, was driving a 2017 Ford Explorer north on Route 901, approximately a quarter-mile south of Reichwein Road, when a deer entered the travel lanes.
The Explorer struck the deer and sustained disabling damage. Eras Mendoza and his three passengers were not injured. D&G Towing removed the vehicle. Ashland EMS and Butler Township fire companies assisted.
Girardville: Ringtown Woman Taken into Custody After Parked-Vehicle Crash
November 1, 9:18 p.m. — Alyssa A. Yotko, 38, of Ringtown, was driving a 2018 Honda CR-V west on East Main Street near North Third Street when she lost control and struck an unattended 2022 Jeep Compass parked off the roadway.
Yotko was not injured and declined medical attention. Troopers said she displayed signs of impairment and was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Honda was towed by Hammers Towing.
Frailey Township: Pickup Towing Trailer Leaves I-81 Collision
November 1, 5:42 p.m. — Police investigated a hit-and-run involving a black pickup truck towing an open trailer carrying a quad or utility terrain vehicle on Interstate 81 north.
Police said the pickup was passing a 2019 Volvo driven by Kofi F. Ayibokou, of Greensboro, North Carolina, when its trailer entered the Volvo’s lane and struck the driver’s-side step and front fender.
The pickup continued north. Ayibokou stopped near mile marker 111.5 and was not injured. Police placed the collision between mile markers 105 and 111.
Foster Township: Driver Injured in I-81 Rollover
November 1, 12:22 p.m. — Abis M. Ferdous, 30, of Chantilly, Virginia, was driving a 2019 Toyota Corolla south on Interstate 81 near mile marker 112.5 when he swerved to avoid a vehicle ahead of him.
Ferdous lost control, left the roadway, and overturned onto the car’s roof. He was wearing a seat belt and was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital–East for arm pain. Police cited him for a lane violation.
Mahanoy Township: SUV Hits Tree After Driver Swerves for Deer
November 1, 2:39 a.m. — Elizabeth Fenkner, 67, of Barnesville, was driving a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer east on Park Place Road, approximately one mile west of High Road, when a deer entered the roadway.
Police said Fenkner swerved to avoid the deer, left the south shoulder, and struck a tree. She was not injured. ACT Towing & Recovery removed the disabled SUV. Police issued a written warning for a lane violation.
Ryan Township: Tamaqua Teen’s Car Overturns After Deer Enters Road
November 1, midnight. — Giovanni M. Rivera-Poke, 18, of Tamaqua, was driving a 2000 Lexus ES300 east in the 1200 block of Barnesville Drive when a deer entered the roadway.
Rivera-Poke swerved, left the north side of the road, struck an embankment, and overturned onto the car’s roof. He was transported to St. Luke’s Miners Campus for a possible injury. Ryan Township fire and EMS personnel assisted.
Ryan Township: Frackville Woman Taken to Hospital After Deer Collision
October 31, 10 p.m. — Melissa A. Sheehan, 37, of Frackville, was driving a 2019 Subaru Impreza south on Interstate 81 near mile marker 124.5 when the vehicle struck a deer.
Sheehan was transported by Shenandoah EMS to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill for a possible injury. Her three passengers were not injured. The Subaru sustained disabling damage and was removed by D&B Towing and Truck Service.
Frailey Township: Deer Collision Disables Volkswagen on I-81
October 31, 1:15 a.m. — James J. Ditzel, 64, of Marlin, was driving a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta south on Interstate 81 near mile marker 111.6 when a deer entered the roadway.
The Jetta struck the deer and was towed by Northern Keystone. Ditzel was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.
North Manheim Township: Woman Injured Leaving Florist Parking Lot
October 29, 12:46 p.m. — Carlene L. Faust, 84, of Schuylkill Haven, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic from the Forget Me Not Florist parking lot onto East Adamsdale Road when her car was struck by a westbound 2019 Jeep Renegade.
Police said Faust entered the roadway without ensuring it was clear. The Jeep was driven by Molly L. Blew, 26, of New Ringgold, who was not injured.
Faust was transported to Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital for evaluation of a suspected minor injury. Her car was towed by Mark Hammers.
Wayne Township: Pickup Strikes Deer on Route 183
October 29, 6:34 a.m. — A southbound 2019 Ford F-350 struck a deer on Route 183 just south of Fire House Road.
Police said the deer entered the roadway with no time for the driver to avoid it. The pickup sustained moderate damage to its front bumper and grille but did not require a tow. The driver, whose name was not included in the release, was not injured.
Wayne Township: Rear-End Crash Sends Hegins Man to Hospital
October 29, 6:32 a.m. — Phillip A. Kelly, 37, of Hegins, was driving a 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander south on Route 183 near Fire House Road when he struck the rear of a 2015 GMC driven by Charles E. Brode III, 56, of Pottsville.
Police said Brode had slowed for a vehicle along the road and Kelly was traveling too fast for conditions and following too closely.
Kelly was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital–East with neck pain. Brode was not injured. Both vehicles were towed by Moyer’s Car Care Center. Kelly was cited for following too closely.
West Brunswick Township: SUV Hits Concrete Barrier
October 28, 7:41 p.m. — John D. Rice, 44, of Pottsville, was driving a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer while turning right from South Liberty Street onto Route 61 when he struck a concrete traffic barrier.
The SUV sustained disabling damage to its front passenger side and was towed. Rice was not injured. Police cited him for a lane violation.
Ryan Township: Wilkes-Barre Man Dies After I-81 Crash
October 28, 12:47 p.m. — Leonard J. Petrilli, 70, of Wilkes-Barre, died from injuries sustained in a crash on Interstate 81 north near mile marker 124.9.
Police said Petrilli was driving a 2019 Audi S4 in the passing lane when, for an unknown reason, he crossed into the right lane and struck the rear of a 2020 Freightliner M2 driven by Joel J. Benitez, 32, of Bethlehem.
The Audi separated from the truck, rolled several times, and came to rest in the left lane. Petrilli, who police said was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected. He was flown to Geisinger Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. Benitez was not injured.
Frackville and Ryan Township firefighters, Frackville Community Ambulance, Shenandoah EMS, Mark Hammers Towing, and state police crash reconstruction and forensic personnel assisted.
Wayne Township: Motorcycle and Minivan Collide at Route 183 Intersection
October 27, 4:24 p.m. — Justin Heist, 38, of Hamburg, was riding a 2022 BMW S1000RR west on Fair Road when he stopped at Route 183 and then entered the intersection without yielding to southbound traffic, police said.
The motorcycle struck the driver’s side of a 2015 Kia Sedona driven by Brett M. Wells, 47, of Fredericksburg. Heist fell from the motorcycle, but neither driver was injured.
The motorcycle sustained disabling damage and was towed. Heist was cited for a stop-sign violation.
Route 61: Motorcycle Crashes After Running Over Gravel
October 27, 7:59 a.m. — A northbound 2026 Yamaha YZF-R7 motorcycle ran over gravel in the left lane of Route 61, causing the rider to lose control and lay the motorcycle down.
Police reported no injuries and did not identify the rider. The release contains conflicting location information, listing Claude Lord Boulevard south of Wade Road in St. Clair in its location fields, while the narrative places the crash near 1267 Centre Turnpike in West Brunswick Township.
Port Clinton: Car Rear-Ends Van Preparing to Park
October 24, 10:40 a.m. — Charles J. Cornman, of Hamburg, was driving a 2006 Volvo S60 north on Penn Street when he struck the rear of a 2021 Nissan NV200 driven by William Wyandt, 66, of Reading.
Police said Wyandt had slowed to parallel park near 56 Penn Street. Neither driver was injured. The Volvo sustained disabling front-end damage and was towed by Trail Towing. Cornman was cited for following too closely.
Pine Grove Township: Rubber Pipe Damages Car on I-81
October 23, 6:21 p.m. — Joshua R. Jenkins, 18, of York, was driving a 2010 Ford Fusion south on Interstate 81 near mile marker 101.1 when he ran over a roughly 10-foot rubber pipe lying across the left lane.
The pipe damaged both driver’s-side tires and rims. Jenkins was not injured. Mark Hammers Towing assisted.
Deer Lake: Two Drivers Injured in Intersection Crash
October 23, 5:49 a.m. — Josiah P. Phillips, 34, of Auburn, was driving a 2021 Ford Edge when he attempted a left turn from Market Street onto Centre Turnpike and entered the path of a 2014 Ford Flex driven by David B. Adams, 63, of Orwigsburg.
Police said Adams was unable to stop and struck the front of Phillips’ vehicle. Both drivers sustained suspected minor injuries and were transported to Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital. Both vehicles were driven from the scene.
West Brunswick Township: Deer Runs into Side of Car
October 23, 5:43 a.m. — Dakota M. Beaver, 23, of Tamaqua, was driving a Toyota west on Summer Valley Road, Route 895, when a deer entered from the south and struck the side of the car.
Beaver brought the vehicle to a controlled stop along the shoulder and was not injured. Detwiler Towing removed the vehicle.
North Manheim Township: Head-On Crash Reported on Cressona Road
October 22, 3:19 p.m. — Renee Austerberry, 40, of Pottsville, was driving a 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage north on Cressona Road west of Gordon Nagle Trail when she crossed into the opposing lane, police said.
The Mitsubishi struck a southbound 2012 Jeep Wrangler head-on. Both vehicles sustained disabling front-end damage and were removed by A&K Towing.
No injuries were reported. The Jeep’s driver’s name was not included in the release. Austerberry was cited for a lane violation.
Hegins Township: Vehicles Collide at Stop Sign
October 21, 6:25 p.m. — A 2025 Subaru Impreza and a 2008 Toyota Tacoma collided at South Good Spring Road and East Main Street.
Police said the Subaru was stopped northbound on South Good Spring Road while the Toyota turned left from East Main Street. The Subaru then moved forward, and the Toyota struck its front driver’s-side bumper.
Both vehicles remained operable, and no injuries were reported. The drivers were not identified in the release.
Branch Township: Tractor-Trailer Strikes Dealership Sign
October 19, 4:46 p.m. — A 2026 Freightliner Cascadia struck a sign while entering the parking lot of Mike Watcher’s Used Cars at 637 Minersville Llewellyn Highway to turn around.
Police said the driver told the investigating trooper he was unaware he had struck the sign. The release did not identify the driver or provide injury information.
Atlantic Street: Vehicle Strikes Pole, Backs into Creek
October 18, 9:06 p.m. — Jeffrey L. Sonon Jr., 53, of Pottsville, was driving a 2024 Ford while attempting to turn around at the dead end of Atlantic Street when he sideswiped a utility pole and continued backing into a creek.
Police said Sonon and his passenger, Marianne Johnson, 23, of Pottsville, left the vehicle and returned home. Neither was injured. JRL Towing removed the vehicle. Sonon was cited for abandonment of a vehicle.
The release lists Norwegian Township in its municipality field and Pottsville in its narrative.
Pine Grove Township: Driver Cited After Leaving Sweet Arrow Lake Road Crash
October 18, 6 p.m. — Sean M. McCann, 45, of Tremont, was driving a 2000 Toyota Camry near 129 Sweet Arrow Lake Road when he failed to negotiate a right curve and struck a mailbox, a boulder, and a utility pole.
Police said McCann left on foot without notifying police and was later identified and located. He was not injured.
Citations included lane and safe-speed violations, abandonment of a vehicle, careless driving, leaving a crash involving unattended property, failure to immediately notify police, and operating a vehicle without a valid inspection certificate.
Pine Grove Township: Surveillance Identifies Driver in Supermarket Hit-and-Run
October 18, 4:02 p.m. — Heather M. Martin, 33, of Pine Grove, was identified as the driver of a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 that struck a parked 2006 Ford Mustang at Coal Town Supermarket, 24 Pleasant Valley Road.
Police said Martin left without notifying police and was identified through the store’s surveillance system. No injuries were reported among the pickup’s occupants.
Police filed citations for careless driving, an accident involving damage to an unattended vehicle or property, and failure to immediately notify police.
North Manheim Township: Collision at West Market Street Intersection
October 16, 8:41 a.m. — Damon E. Logue, 45, of Pottsville, was driving a 2023 Kia Forte north on South Greenview Road when he entered West Market Street in front of a westbound 2021 GMC Acadia driven by Rebecca A. Hartranft, 34, of Pottsville.
The GMC struck the Kia’s driver’s-side rear quarter panel. Neither driver was injured. The report lists a citation for disregarding a flashing red signal.
West Brunswick Township: Rear-End Crash Near Disabled Tractor-Trailer
October 16, 6:54 a.m. — A 2013 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Guillermo E. Jimenez, 40, of Wilkes-Barre, became disabled in the southbound lane of Summer Valley Road near Drehersville Road.
John G. Donish Jr., 57, of Weatherly, stopped his 2017 Dodge Caravan behind the truck. A 1997 Toyota Camry driven by Joel A. Negron Garcia, 18, of Middleport, then struck the rear of the Caravan.
None of the drivers was injured. The report lists a diesel smoke-control citation for Jimenez.
Pine Grove: Pickup Leaves After Striking Parked Truck at Event
September 26, 9:50 p.m. — A black Chevrolet Silverado struck a parked 2018 GMC Sierra in a field being used for event parking next to the Pine Grove Fire Department along North Tulpehocken Street.
Police said the Chevrolet backed from a parking space, struck the GMC’s front driver’s-side bumper, and left without exchanging information. The GMC sustained minor damage and did not require towing.
A witness supplied a possible registration, but police were unable to identify the vehicle through records checks. The investigating trooper recommended closing the case unless new leads become available.
Charges and citations are allegations; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Sources: Pennsylvania State Police public information releases from the Frackville and Schuylkill Haven stations: l_frcv_05nov2_0930.pdf, l_frcv_03nov2026_1240.pdf and l_sch_03nov2026_1639.pdf.