THARPTOWN - Despite the valiant efforts of rescue personnel and hospital staff, a 23-year-old Shamokin woman became the second local resident to die in the past three days Sunday afternoon as a result of a near head-on collision on Route 61 near the Brewery Curve.
Adair N. McHenry was pronounced dead at 5 p.m. Sunday by an emergency room physician at Shamokin Area Community Hospital (SACH), approximately 45 minutes after her southbound white Oldsmobile Silhouette van crossed over a concrete median into the northbound lane and collided with a red Toyota sedan operated by David Healey, 23, of Hampton, Va.
Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley reported McHenry died from multiple blunt force trauma.
McHenry's four-year-old daughter, Teah, who was a passenger in the van, suffered serious injuries and was transported by AREA Services Ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Her condition was not available late Sunday night.
Healey and his two passengers, Abby Mangiaruga, 14, of Paxinos, and Danielle Stump, 14, of Coal Township, suffered less extensive injuries and were treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel before being taken to SACH for further evaluation. Healey, who is related to one of his passengers, was visiting the area.
Coal Township police reported McHenry was driving south toward Shamokin when her van crossed over a concrete median for an unknown reason and skidded into the car. Police said the driver's side of the van collided with the front of the car.
The van came to rest in the northbound passing lane of Route 61, while the car skidded off the highway and came to a halt on the northbound berm. The violent collision caused extensive damage to both vehicles and resulted in the northbound lanes being closed to traffic for almost four hours.
Personnel from Coal Township Rescue Squad and AREA Services quickly responded to the scene and were able to free McHenry's child from the wreckage before transporting her to Shamokin Area Community Hospital. Rescue crews had to utilize the Jaws of Life to pull off the entire roof and driver's side section of the van to reach McHenry, who was pinned in the wreckage. The Shamokin woman was then transported by ambulance to SACH, where LifeFlight helicopter had landed and was ready to fly her to Geisinger Medical Center, but McHenry passed away in the emergency room before she could be flown to Geisinger.
A cat in the van also perished in the crash.
Traffic rerouted
Numerous debris that came mostly from the van was strewn along the highway and berm. The items included the van's windshield and rear passenger side tire, other vehicle parts and multiple small pieces of dog food.
The windshield on the car was mangled as were other sections of the vehicle.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
Northbound traffic on Route 61 was rerouted at the Cameron Bridge for a few hours to allow firefighters and other personnel to clean up the accident site and police to thoroughly conduct their investigation, which is continuing.
The highway was completely reopened to traffic at about 8 p.m.
Assisting Coal Township Patrolmen Joshua Wynn, Matthew Hashuga and Terry Ketchem at the scene were Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano and Patrolmen Mark Costa and William Miner, Ralpho Township Patrolman Chris Dailey, Coal Township Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Malukas, Assistant Fire Chief Michael Timco, Coal Township Rescue Squad Chief John Campbell, Coal Township firefighters, members of Elysburg Ambulance Company, fire police and AREA Services Ambulance personnel.
Fatal in Paxinos
On Friday afternoon, James E. Leese Jr., 22, of Elysburg, was killed in a two-vehicle head-on crash on Route 61 in front of Superior Plus Energy Services in Shamokin Township. Ralph Koch, 53, of Shamokin, the other driver involved in the accident, was listed Sunday night in serious condition at Geisinger.
Ashland crash
Two vehicles also were demolished Thursday afternoon in a violent, head-on accident in the 1000 block of Centre Street in Ashland.
One of the people involved in the crash, Heidi Crane Securda, 35, of Minersville, who was 8 1/2 months pregnant, gave birth hours after arriving at a Pottsville hospital for treatment of her injuries.
According to borough police, Gregory Wilson, 22, of 226 B St., Girardville, was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze east when he lost control of the vehicle in order to avoid a pedestrian, crossed into the westbound lane and into the path of a 2011 Toyota 4Runner driven by Crane Securda.
After impact, Wilson's vehicle rolled once and landed on its wheels. He was ejected through the rear window onto the street.
Wilson and Crane Securda's passenger, Corinne Ley, of 31 S. Crescent St., Tremont, were both transported to Geisinger.