A man standing behind a parked pickup truck and a 16-year-old driver were flown to Hershey Medical Center after a crash involving five vehicles Friday afternoon in Tower City.
Troopers from the State Police-Schuylkill Haven barracks say the crash happened shortly before 3 p.m. on East Grand Ave. (Route 209) at its intersection with S. Sixth St. in Tower City.
Police say the teen driver, of Sacramento, was traveling south on E. Grand Ave. in a 2012 BMW 545i at a high rate of speed when he swerved into the northbound lane. The BMW then struck a 2011 Subaru Outback driven by Ericka Hirel, 52, of Muir, which was turning left onto E. Grand Ave. from the Mid Penn Bank drive-thru ATM parking lot, police say.
The BMW continued north in the northbound lane and hit three vehicles that police say were parked legally along E. Grand Ave.: a 2011 Toyota Tacoma, a 2019 Subaru Impreza and a 2017 Hyundai Elantra.
William Smith, 56, of Williamstown, was behind the Tacoma when the BMW struck it, police say. Video of the crash reviewed by Coal Region Canary shows Smith standing behind the pickup at the moment of impact, and shows the collision driving him backward. He was flown by LifeFlight to Hershey Medical Center with suspected serious injuries.
The 16-year-old driver was also flown by LifeFlight to Hershey Medical Center. Police say he sustained significant injuries. He was wearing a lap and shoulder belt. His name has not been released.
Hirel was not injured, police say. Her passenger, Daniel Hirel, 75, of Muir, was taken to Geisinger St. Luke’s by Tower City Ambulance with a suspected minor injury. Both were wearing lap and shoulder belts, according to police.
Criminal charges are pending further investigation, State Police said.
The BMW and the Outback were towed by Hammer Towing and stored at the State Police barracks in Schuylkill Haven. The Tacoma was also towed and stored by Hammer Towing.
Life Team EMS, LifeFlight, Tower City Ambulance, the Muir Fire Department, Troop L FSU, the Troop L CARS unit and Hammer Towing assisted at the scene.
Photo submitted
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