BEAVERDALE - A hit-and-run driver was apprehended by police Wednesday night after he struck at least three people walking on the Locust Gap Highway near Mount Carmel Area Elementary School.
Victor E. Swaboski III, employed as an elementary teacher in Shamokin Area School District, was found hiding in a wooded area near Seventh and Poplar streets and was taken into custody.
Swaboski, 39, of Mount Carmel, was taken to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community
Hospital for blood testing and was scheduled to be arraigned by an on-call district magistrate on criminal charges late Wednesday, said Chief Brian Hollenbush, Mount Carmel Township Police.
Three people are believed to be seriously injured and were taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, two of whom were flown by Life Flight helicopter and a third driven by ambulance.
Two others were driven by ambulance to G-SACH in Coal Township.
None of the victims' injuries are believed to be life-threatening, an official said at the scene.
No further information was available on the victims.
Two men who saw Swaboski's Jeep Liberty after the crash say it was dragging a bicycle.
John Lupatsky and Joe Stelma both said they watched Swaboski flee east into Mount Carmel borough on Fifth Street, dragging a bicycle and causing sparks to fly.
Stelma was in his garage when he saw the Jeep.
"You could see sparks all the way up Fifth Street," he said.
Lupatsky was driving in his own vehicle when the Jeep drove past him. He said he followed the vehicle for a bit before pulling off of the road as police vehicles approached from behind.
Both of the men said Swaboski stopped his vehicle at Fifth and Beech streets, exited and pulled the bike away before driving south on Beech Street.
Swaboski was apprehended nearby in a wooded area at Seventh and Poplar streets near the site of the former Lapinski Lumber Co., Mount Carmel.
The accident was reported at 8:22 p.m. and Swaboski was in custody 14 minutes later.
The five pedestrians, all believed to be teenagers, were walking east toward Mount Carmel when they were struck from behind by the eastbound Jeep.
Two of the teens had bicycles.
The victims were treated in a patch of grass just off the highway and near the school's fence.
Those flown by helicopter were taken to the high school where a landing zone was established.
An official at the scene confirmed that a woman driving in the area at the time of the accident pulled over to call 911 and check on the victims.
A Beaverdale man who was among the first at the scene said it appeared three of the teens were hit by the Jeep while the other two were shaken up by the incident.
All were conscious and talking to emergency responders, said the man, who asked not to be identified.