Police are awaiting the conclusions of a state-certified accident reconstructionist to determine the exact cause of a violent two-vehicle crash that happened recently between Ashland and Girardville. One driver, a woman from Shenandoah, was listed in serious condition, while the other driver, a woman from Girardville, was said to be in serious condition. Both accident victims were flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville for treatment.
A man who lives near the scene of the crash said the collision “sounded like dynamite it was so loud.” The front driver’s side on both vehicles was badly damaged, and the woman from Girardville had to be cut out of her car using the “jaws of life.”
The police chief for Butler Township indicated that so far the cause of the accident is unknown, but he said that skid marks on the road suggest a specific point of impact. An initial look at the crash site didn’t reveal the direction in which each driver was travelling, and at the time of a local report, further questioning of the drivers was still necessary to determine if negligence or some other cause brought about the collision.
The police chief added that the “black boxes” in each car will be obtained through a search warrant, and authorities will use that evidence to determine the speed of each vehicle and whether the drivers applied any brake pressure just before the crash.
Our readers in Pottsville may know that authorities typically reconstruct serious car accidents to decide who was at fault. As the victims in this case struggle to recover, they should be aware of their rights and responsibilities under Pennsylvania’s personal injury laws. The injuries sustained in a car accident are painful enough without an added financial struggle of medical bills and time off from work, and Pennsylvania residents faced with a similar situation may want to explore their legal options for holding negligent parties accountable.
Source: republicanherald.com, “2 women seriously injured in crash on Route 54 outside Ashland,” John E. Usalis, July 3, 2012