A vehicle crash scene on Route 61 Thursday afternoon caused quite a scene.
Two people were injured in the initial crash. And while attending to the scene of that crash, directing traffic, a fire police officer was struck by another vehicle.
According to State Police in Schuylkill Haven, the first incident happened at about 2 p.m. Thursday. The crash was reported on Route 61 near its intersection with Raring Dr. in North Manheim Twp., near Orwigsburg.
Police say a GMC Savana van driven by Scott Hall, 54, of Hamburg, was headed north on Route 61. Hall told police an unidentified vehicle was passing his van in the left lane of the highway and then abruptly tried moving into the driving lane, cutting off Hall.
Hall swerved to avoid hitting this unidentified vehicle. In doing that, Hall’s vehicle went off the right shoulder of the highway and struck a tree.
Police say Hall suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to Geisinger-St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment.
A passenger in the van with him, 33-year-old Tricia Wyman, of Frackville, sustained serious injuries and was taken to Reading Hospital.
Fire Police Officer Struck at the Scene
About an hour later, just south of that crash, a fire police officer was on traffic control duty due to the scene ahead.
Police say Michael Bologna, 70, of Schuylkill Haven, was working Fire Police duty on Route 61 at its intersection with S. Liberty St., at about 3 p.m.
At that time, a vehicle driven by Doreen Korell, 63, of Orwigsburg, approached Bologna from behind and hit his leg. Korell drove away from the scene but police were able to track her down. She reportedly told police she was unaware that she’d hit Bologna.
Bologna was evaluated at the scene by attending EMS personnel.
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