1 Dead, 7 Injured in Route 61 Crash Outside Pottsville

A woman is dead and 7 other people were injured and taken to a hospital after a crash on Route 61 outside Pottsville Friday evening.

According to State Police, the crash happened shortly after 5:30 p.m. Friday where Route 61 runs briefly through Palo Alto, bordering Pottsville.

Police say the driver of a vehicle headed south on the highway lost control around a curve, crossed over into the northbound lanes and struck another vehicle.

Driving the southbound vehicle was Samantha Colon, 33, of Pottsville. Colon’s vehicle, an Acura MDX, slid as it crossed over the raised median separating north- and southbound lanes.

Dauphin County Woman Dies in Route 61 Crash

As it entered the northbound lanes, it struck a vehicle driven by Deborah Fritzinger, 66, of Port Carbon, which was in the right lane of the northbound side of the highway.

That crash caused both vehicles to exit the roadway. Colon’s vehicle became wedged in an embankment on its passenger side, facing south, police say. Fritzinger’s vehicle, a Chevrolet Trax, ended up facing west on the right shoulder of Route 61.

Fritzinger, who was alone in the vehicle, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital.

There were 7 passengers inside Colon’s vehicle.

Police say Iesha D. Colon, 29, of Steelton, Dauphin County, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by the Schuylkill County Coroner’s Office.

An 8-year-old passenger in that same vehicle suffered a suspected serious injury, police say. A 10-year-old, 13-year-old, and 14-year-old also suffered minor injuries.

Alberto Colon, 56, of Pottsville, and Patricia Colon, 19, of Pottsville, suffered minor injuries in the crash as well.

All those injured were also taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital.

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