UPDATE: Pottsville Woman in Critical Condition Following Hit-and-Run on I-81
Police are looking for a suspect in a hit-and-run crash along Interstate 81 Wednesday afternoon.
According to information from State Police in Frackville, the crash happened in Mahanoy Township near Mile Marker 129.5 in the southbound lanes of the interstate at about 5:40.
It was there that a 2002 Subaru Outback driven by a woman with two passengers on board was in the passing lane of the highway. Then, a driver in a “medium-sized SUV” veered from the driving lane into the passing lane, striking the Subaru, police suspect.
The impact pushed the Subaru onto the shoulder of I-81 temporarily. As it re-entered the roadway, the Subaru was hit a second time by the same SUV. That caused the Subaru to roll over several times, ejecting the driver from the vehicle.
The driver of the SUV got out of the vehicle and approached one of the passengers in the Subaru but he then fled the scene driving southbound.
Police say the SUV may have been black in color and possibly a Chevrolet. They describe the driver as in his 30s or 40 with black or brown hair. He was wearing a black collared shirt and dark-colored pants with a logo on the left chest of the shirt.
The suspected SUV likely has damage to the front fender and bumper area.
The driver of the SUV had to be flown via medical helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and is reported to be in serious condition. Two passengers, a male and female, in the vehicle were taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pottsville with what police describe as minor injuries.
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the driver who fled the scene of this crash. If you have any information on the driver or the vehicle, please contact State Police in Frackville at 570-874-5300.
Photo: Coal Region Canary
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