"I just crashed. I just crashed ... I need medics."

Those words from part-time Nesquehoning Police officer Steven Homanko came over the scanner at 6:22 Monday night after he lost control of his cruiser along Route 209 between Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe and collided with an oncoming vehicle carrying a Pleasant Valley Elementary School teacher and his wife.Few details are surfacing about the crash that claimed the life of Carola Sauers, 69, the passenger in the car that was struck. Her husband, Michael, 64, remains hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital Network in Bethlehem.6:21 p.m.According to scanner reports, Homanko said he was pursuing a yellow Dodge Neon traveling along Route 209 toward Jim Thorpe. It was unclear from the report if he was in a high speed chase, but sirens could be heard over the scanner.He was unable to make out the registration of the vehicle and called for assistance from Jim Thorpe Police.State police have told media outlets that Homanko's destination prior to the crash is still being investigated.However, Michael Cardone of Lehighton, the passenger in the yellow Neon, is saying that it wasn't a chase, and in fact, neither he nor his girlfriend, the driver of the vehicle who has not yet been named, knew they were being pursued by Homanko."There were no sirens," he told the Times News in a telephone interview Tuesday evening. "There was definitely no cop chasing after us. Nobody pulled us over until we got into Jim Thorpe."He said that he and his girlfriend, as well as her two children, ages 16 and 11, were detained. Cardone and his girlfriend were then questioned for reasons unknown.Cardone added that they were not arrested or charged with anything, but their car was impounded, leaving the family stranded in Jim Thorpe at 9:30 p.m.But according to court records, Cardone has been in trouble with the law in Nesquehoning and specifically Homanko before. Most recently, he was charged for falsely identifying himself to police and possessing drug paraphernalia.Before that, he was cited twice in 2013, once for an unregistered vehicle and also for driving under suspension.6:22 p.m.According to state police, Homanko lost control of the 2009 Crown Victoria police cruiser as he rounded a curve about one and one-half miles north of the intersection of routes 209 and 93, between Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe.The cruiser crossed into the oncoming lane and the rear end of the vehicle struck a 2007 Toyota Yaris, which was carrying Michael and Carola Sauers.Homanko can be heard over the scanner saying he crashed and needed medics because he struck a vehicle.Also at that time, scanner reports came in that Jim Thorpe Police saw the yellow Neon at the traffic light at the intersection of routes 209 and 93 in Jim Thorpe.The scanner lit up with a flurry of activity, with calls for Jim Thorpe and Nesquehoning fire companies as well as Nesquehoning Ambulance and Lehighton ALS to assist in the crash.Nesquehoning Police Chief Sean Smith was also called to the scene and an air medical unit was called for transport.Jim Thorpe Police also stopped the yellow Neon in question and detained Cardone and his girlfriend.6:30 p.m.Route 209 at the intersection of Route 93 in Nesquehoning and in the area of the Liberties in Jim Thorpe was shut down to traffic and the state police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Specialist Unit was called to investigate.The Sauerses were transported to the Panther Valley Elementary School in Nesquehoning, where they were flown to St. Luke's Hospital Bethlehem. Carola was pronounced dead at the hospital. Michael was hospitalized for severe injuries, state police said.Homanko was transported by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, where he was treated for moderate injuries and released.State police were assisted at the crash by Lehighton, Jim Thorpe, Nesquehoning and Beaver Meadows police departments, as well as Nesquehoning, New Columbus and Jim Thorpe fire departments.Franklin Township, Kidder, Jim Thorpe and Summit Hill police were on-scene at the site of the traffic stop of the yellow Neon.The officerThe 25-year-old officer, who lives in Beaver Meadows, is also employed as a part-time officer in McAdoo.Homanko has been working as a part-time officer in Nesquehoning since last year.On Tuesday night, at a McAdoo Borough Council meeting, WNEP reported that a number of people came forward to talk about Homanko, who they said "has a pattern of harassing people by pulling them over in their vehicles without cause."The coupleCarola and Michael Sauers, whose address was not released by police, were involved in their community.According to various news reports, the couple previously resided in the Hazleton area and Brodheadsville.Michael is a second-grade teacher at Pleasant Valley Elementary and was previously employed at McAdoo Elementary School, while Carola was known for her vegetarian cooking.