CATAWISSA - A 2011 graduate of Southern Columbia Area High School died during Wednesday night's snowstorm when her sedan slid into a PennDOT snowplow truck on Route 487 about three miles south of here.
Locust Township Police said Eleni Fiona Bennett, 18, of 51 Mountain Road, Overlook, Ralpho Township, died almost instantly in the crash in Franklin Township just before 9 p.m.
Chief Allen L. Breach said Bennett was driving a 2005 Kia Rio north when her car collided with a 2012 International truck being driven by Richard M. Lippay, 55, of West Holly Street, Coal Township.
Breach said a certified re-constructionist will review the crash
scene, but a preliminary investigation indicates Bennett lost control and her car slid toward the truck. The driver's side front of her vehicle struck the driver's side front of the plow.
Breach said there is a slight curve in the highway in that area, but police are not sure if that contributed to the crash.
Road conditions were treacherous Wednesday evening as heavy rain changed over to snow throughout the evening and accumulated 2 or 3 inches in most areas.
Police said officer Jarrod Rider arrived at the scene at 9:05 p.m. to find Bennett deceased. While she was wearing her seat belt, police said she died from blunt force trauma to the head and upper torso.
She was a student at Kutztown University, according to police.
Personnel from Catawissa Hose Company, Southside Area Ambulance, Greater Columbia Medical Corp. Ambulance and Columbia County Coroner's Office assisted police.
The accident remains under investigation, but no charges are pending, police said.
During a snowstorm on Oct. 29, a 2007 Southern graduate, Tricia Rose Shutt, of Elysburg, was killed in an accident on Route 487 near Knoebels.