MOUNT PLEASANT — A Pottsville woman died, and three other people suffered unknown injuries after the vehicle the woman was driving was struck head-on Saturday night, according to Foster Township Police Chief James Nettles.
Crystal L. Rausch, 50, of 21 Beckville Road, was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:32 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Albert Barnes, according to police. The coroner’s office will provide the cause and manner of death.
According to police, Ryan J. Little, 23, of 505 E. Fifth St., Mount Carmel, was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and had just exited the Interstate 81 ramp and began traveling west on Route 901 across the I-81 bridge at 7:55 p.m.
Rausch was traveling east on Route 901 in a 2005 Ford Escape XLT and entered the I-81 bridge, police said.
Little’s truck was observed by witnesses crossing into the eastbound lane and hitting the Rausch vehicle head on about 200 feet east of the I-81 southbound ramp and Route 901, police said.
The impact forced the Rausch vehicle backward approximately 10 feet with the rear of the vehicle up against the bridge safety railing, police said. The Little vehicle stopped on impact, forcing the rear to spin counterclockwise, blocking the eastbound lane and partially blocking the westbound lane.
Both Rausch and a front-seat passenger, Cathy Walacavage-Andrachick, 61, also of 21 Beckville Road, Pottsville, were trapped in the vehicle for approximately 30 minutes before being extricated by mechanical means. Rausch was partially ejected, police said.
Walacavage-Andrachick was flown from the scene to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, with unknown injuries. She was listed in critical condition Sunday afternoon, according to a nursing supervisor.
A rear seat passenger, a 10-year-old boy, was removed from Rausch’s vehicle by a passing motorist. He had leg and arm injuries and was also flown to Geisinger Medical Center.
Little was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with unknown injuries.
The following fire companies assisted with the extrication and traffic control: Clover Fire Company, Heckscherville; Minersville Rescue, Yorkville Rescue, South Cass Fire Company and Mountaineer Fire Company.
Minersville and Cass Township police and members of the state police also assisted. Troopers of the crash reconstruction unit and forensic services unit responded. The investigation is continuing, Nettles said.
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Pottsville woman dies, 3 hurt in crash
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