Two people from Port Carbon were seriously injured last Sunday in a crash near a notorious intersection near Renninger’s Market outside Orwigsburg.
According to information released Saturday by the State Police-Schuylkill Haven barracks, the crash happened at about 10:45 on Sunday morning, at the intersection of Route 61 and W. Market St. in North Manheim Twp.
Police say a Chevy Malibu driven by 78-year-old William Bender, of Port Carbon, was stopped at a red light at the intersection of W. Market and the highway. In the car with him was Carol Bender, 79, also of Port Carbon.
At the same time, a Ford Mustang driven by 26-year-old Dominic Palmeri, of Schuylkill Haven, was headed east on Market St., trying to merge onto the highway.
The Benders’ vehicle went through a green light and tried to turn left into Renninger’s Market, into Palmeri’s path.
The front passenger side of the Benders’ vehicle hit the front driver’s side of Palmeri’s car. After the initial crash, the Benders’ car drifted into another business, The Freeze, causing damage to it.
Palmer’s vehicle hit a nearby PennDOT sign on the shoulder of the ramp.
The Benders were flown by medical helicopter to Lehigh Valley-Cedar Crest with what police describe in their incident report as suspected serious injuries.
Palmeri was taken by ambulance to nearby Geisinger-St. Luke’s hospital.
