TURBOTVILLE - A Turbotville woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash at 5 a.m. Monday on Route 54 near Beaver Run Road in Lewis Township, within about one mile of her home.
Beverly A. Tanner, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene by a representative of the Northumberland County Coroner's Office. The other driver, William Little, 20, of Turbotville, whose vehicle burst into flames after the impact, was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was listed in serious condition as of 1 p.m.
State police at Milton report a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Little, was traveling east on Route 54 about one mile east Turbotville when he traveled off the right side of the road. His pickup then traveled back across the eastbound lane and into the westbound lane, directly into the path of Tanner's westbound 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora.
The two vehicles struck head-on in the westbound lane. Tanner's vehicle rotated and traveled off the north side of the road and into a shallow gully; Little's vehicle continued east on Route 54 for a short distance before going into the same gully. The Silverado then caught on fire, but Little was able to escape before his vehicle was completely consumed.
A section of the highway from Route 44 in Turbotville east to County Line Road was closed to traffic for approximately 4 1/2 hours while the scene was cleaned and police investigated.
Assisting police at the scene were members of the State Police Forensic Unit out of Montoursville, the State Police Reconstruction Unit, PennDOT, Warrior Run and Turbotville Fire Department and Fire Police. The investigation into the accident will continue.