On Feb. 2 at approx. 9:50 p.m., an accident occurred in the eastbound lane of Route 443 at Seneca Road between a tractor-trailer owned by New England Motor Freight and a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was Richard F. McLaughlin, 58, of Coyote Drive, Jim Thorpe. The driver of the Chevrolet Avalanche was Harvine M. Tyson, 37, of the 400 block of Fritz Road, Lehighton.Tyson was traveling east on Route 443. McLaughlin was on Seneca Road, stopped at the stop sign at Route 443 and starting to turn right onto Route 443. The trailer portion for an unknown reason broke loose from the tractor and traveled 11 feet into the east bound lane of the highway and directly into the path of Tyson's vehicle. Tyson had no opportunity to avoid colliding with the trailer.McLaughlin was not injured. Tyson suffered injury to her lower extremities and had to be air lifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.Route 443 was shut down for about 90 minutes. The tractor-trailer has been impounded by Mahoning Township police. Arrangements have been made for a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper to perform an inspection on the vehicle.Mahoning Township Police were assisted at the scene by West Penn Township police, Mahoning Valley Ambulance, Mahoning Valley Fire Department and Lehighton Fire Department.The accident is still under investigation. Anyone witnessing the accident is asked to call Officer Tyler Meek of the Mahoning Township police department at (570) 386-2241.