Ice a Factor in Three Separate Lycoming County Crashes

Ice a Factor in Three Separate Lycoming County Crashes – PSP Montoursville cited an icy roadway as the casual factor in two separate vehicular accidents earlier this week. Trooper Russel Ramin said minor injuries were sustained in the first accident which occurred at 2 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 30 in Muncy Creek Township. Linda A. Banks, 48, and her passenger, 39-year-old Robert C. Banks, both of Muncy, were westbound on John Brady Drive near Industrial Park Road, when she lost control on an ice covered bridge. Ramin said the Banks vehicle began to slide in a counter clockwise direction, causing the Chevy Venture to strike the guardrail along the south berm with the front bumper. The guardrail then fell to the ground and the vehicle went over the rail, coming to rest approximately 20 feet from the road. Both occupants were wearing their seat belts, Ramin said, and were treated at Muncy Valley Hospital.

The second accident occurred over four hours later, at 6:10 a.m. when Frances A. Hall, 68, of Montgomery was crossing the same bridge and lost control, crossing the eastbound lane and striking the guardrail. Hall was not injured in the accident and was wearing a seatbelt, Trooper Michael Shipman said.

And on Route 15 in Lewis Township, at 1:40 a.m., James G. Nice III, 30, of Ashburn, Virginia, was traveling south on Route 15, negotiating a right bank curve. As Nice was crossing the bridge which crosses over Route 14, the Ford F150 he was operating lost traction on the ice-covered bridge and started to fish tail. The vehicle had initial impact with the right rear quarter panel with guide rail on the west side of Route 15, then crossed both lanes and had seconday impact with a ditch which separates the north and south bound travel lanes. He continued in an eastward direction and crossed over both travel lanes, having final impact with a guide railc, coming to final rest facing north east. Nice sustained moderate injuries and was treated in the rear of the Trout Run Volunteer Fire Company, Trooper Travis Doebler said.

PSP Montoursville also reported the following incidents:
•    In Wolf Township at 2:40 a.m. on Oct. 15, Samual A. Palacios, 32, of Cogan Station was traveling south on Route 220 north of Reservoir Road. At the same time, a vehicle was traveling north on Route 220, approximately a quarter mile north of Reservoir Road, and crossed over the center yellow lines, sideswiping Palacios. The driver failed to stop and exchange information, fleeing the scene. Palacios contacted state police and waited in a nearby parking lot, Trooper Travis Pena said. No injuries were reported.
•    In Shrewsbury Township, 11:15 a.m., on Oct. 30, Doris L. Seewald, 82, of Montoursville, was pulling out of the parking lot of the Tivoli Tavern and entered the path of Diana L. Gordner. Gordner, 28, of Muncy, was traveling north on Route 220 Seewald entered the highway, and impacted the driver’s side front of Seewald’s vehicle. Gordner sustained moderate injuries, while a 3-year-old boy in Gorder’s vehicle sustained major injuries. A second passenger in Gordner’s vehicle, a 5-year-old boy, was not injured. Seewald’s 5-year-old female passenger, from South Williamsport, sustained moderate injuries, while Seewald herself sustained minor injuries. She was cited in the accident, Trooper Michael Shipman said.
•    In Muncy borough, at 2:30 a.m., a vehicle was parked along the east berm of North Market Street facing north when it was struck by a northbound vehicle 377 feet north of Noble Alley. The passenger side mirror had initial impact with the parked vehicle’s left rear bumper and tail light, Trooper Travis Doebler said. The moving vehicle continued north; an area canvas was performed yielding negative results, Doebler said.
•    In Loyalsock Township at 7:57 a.m., Nov. 1, Justin L. Ault, 20, of Williamsport, was traveling on Northway Road after having just exited I-180. As Ault was negotiating a left hand curve, he lost control of the 1987 Harley-Davidson Sportster he was operating, laying it onto its side. Trooper Edward Dammer said the motorcycle then slid on its side until striking the traffic island and sign; Ault sustained minor injuries and was transported to Williamsport Hospital for treatment.