Two separate accidents involving overturned vehicles Sunday kept medical helicopters busy as crash victims suffered serious injuries.
The accidents - one in Northumberland County and the other in Columbia County - occurred within an eight-hour period of each other, and both drivers were flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, via Life Flight helicopter for treatment.
Near J&D's Campground
The first accident happened Sunday morning along Route 487 in Catawissa R.R., in front of J&D's Campground.
Locust Township Police said emergency crews were called to the scene at approximately 6:35 a.m. for a motor vehicle accident with possible entrapment.
Upon arrival, they found a silver Dodge Stratus overturned in a small ditch along Route 487. The driver, identified as Mark Daniels, no age or address given, was found lying a short distance from the vehicle.
Police could not say Sunday if Daniels was ejected from the vehicle, or crawled out of it.
Authorities believe, due to evidence at the scene, that Daniels was traveling north on Route 487 when he either fell asleep at the wheel or was distracted.
The Stratus then drifted from its lane of travel, and struck a tree on the south shoulder before overturning and coming to rest on its roof. A Locust Township Police officer said the crash may have occurred approximately a half-hour before authorities were called.
A Geisinger nursing supervisor reported Sunday afternoon that Daniels was listed in serious condition. Assisting police at the scene were fire departments from Elysburg and Catawissa and medical units from Elysburg.
Near Cameron Bridge
Coal Township rescue officials were called to an accident at 2:25 p.m. Sunday on Route 225 near the Cameron Bridge.
Township police Patrolman Terry Ketchem reported John Wolfe, 89, of Shamokin, was traveling north on Route 225 in a 2005 Kia Sportage when the vehicle left the right side of the road, striking a rock embankment.
When Wolfe tried to regain control of the vehicle, it struck the embankment again, causing the Sportage to flip onto its roof, partially ejecting the driver.
Coal Township firefighters turned the vehicle onto its side and used tools to extricate Wolfe. He was transported by ambulance to Shamokin Area Community Hospital, where Life Flight flew him to Geisinger. As of 7:20 p.m. Sunday, Wolfe was listed in serious condition.
Assisting Ketchem at the scene were Coal Township officers Joshua Wynn, Chris Lapotsky and Matthew Henrich, Shamokin Police officers Jarrod Scandle, William Miner and William Zalinsky, and members of AREA Services ambulance.