Multiple Patients Flown from Pa. Crash Site

Jan. 31--HOMETOWN -- At least five helicopters were needed to fly critically injured patients from a head-on crash in Rush Township Saturday afternoon.

The crash happened around 1 p.m. on Route 309, just north of the entrance to Main Street leading to Quakake.

Five medical helicopters landed at the McAdoo ball field to take the injured to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest; St. Luke's Hospital, Fountain Hill; and Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

In addition to the five, at least seven more people were taken to area hospitals by ambulance for treatment of less serious injuries.

Rush Township Police are investigating the crash but had no information immediately available.

Initital reports indicated a man driving a Subaru SUV was traveling south on Route 309 when he crossed over the median, went into the northbound lane and struck a northbound full-size van carrying at least 10 people.

The driver of the Subaru was trapped inside the SUV and removed by members of the Tamaqua Rescue Squad. Crews strugged to remove the injured from the van but pior to EMS units arriving several were helped into a nearby house.

The crash closed Route 309 for several hours while the injured were taken from the scene, the investigation completed and the vehicles removed.

Hometown Fire Police assisted with diverting traffic from the busy highway onto other roads leading around the crash site.

For more information please check back or see Sunday's RepublicanHerald.

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