State police at Lehighton reported investigating a five vehicle, rear-end type crash on Tuesday, Sept. 27, along SR209 in Polk Township, Monroe County. It was one of several crashes probed by troopers recently.

The operators of the vehicles were Samantha A. Harlan, 18, of Lake Harmony; Amy L. Walker, 27, of Califon, N.J.; Cheryl Vlasak, 48, of Saylorsburg; Ramona L. Mondillo, 43, of Saylorsburg; and Joshua D. Altemos, 29, of Saylorsburg.Troopers said all were northbound and stopped waiting for another vehicle to make a left turn. Harlan failed to observed the stop traffic ahead of her and her vehicle hit the rear of Walker's car pushing into Vlasak's vehicle that went into Mondillo's vehicle and that into Altemos's vehicle.Walker, Valsak and a passenger with her, Dylan Vlasak, 8, all sustained minor injuries but did not require immediate medical attention.Troopers cited Harlan for driving a vehicle at a (un) safe speed.A two vehicle crash occurred about 2:25 p.m. on Sept. 12 along Blue Mountain Drive in Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon County. Troopers said Ronald P. Ferrizzi, 62, of Philadelphia, operating a 2007 Toyota Highlander, was proceeding to make a left turn from the Blue Mountain Ski Area onto Blue Mountain Drive and then make another turn back to the ski area. While doing so his vehicle struck a 2002 Ford Explorer operated by Amy L. Haydt, 41, of Kunkletown.A passenger with Ferrizzi, Kathleen Ferrizzi, 60, same address, was taken to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, by Palmerton ambulance for treatment of a minor injury, troopers said.Ferrizzi was cited for turning movements and required signal.Troopers investigated a one vehicle crash about 10:17 p.m. on Sept. 16 along SR895 in East Penn Township. Troopers said Jason T. Eckhart, 40, of Lehighton, was driving a 2003 Harley-Davison motorcycle westbound at an apparent high rate of speed when he lost control. The front wheel of the bike struck a curb, then traveled northwest off the road striking a mailbox and a parked vehicle.After striking the vehicle the bike came to final rest north of the parked vehicle. Eckhart was injured and taken to St. Luke's Hospital, Fountain Hill. He was cited for driving a vehicle at a (un) safe speed.Another one vehicle crash was reported on Sept. 13 about 1:30 p.m. along Smith Drive in Polk Township. Troopers said Janice R. Wert, 78, of Lehighton, was driving a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser southbound when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle went off the road and struck a ditch, traveled about 50 feet more and struck some small trees and brush, then a large tree with the left front.After striking the large tree the Cruiser came to final rest facing east after overturning onto to the passenger side.Wertz was injured and taken to St. Luke's Hospital by West End ambulance.A one vehicle crash occurred about 5:50 p.m. on Sept. 14 along Little Gap Road, in Lower Towamensing Township. Troopers said Kenneth N. Thomas, 50, of East Stroudsburg, was driving a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta eastbound when two vehicles in front of him slowed down to make a turn. Thomas swerved to the right to avoid a collision and his vehicle went off the road and impacted with a house, troopers said.Thomas was not injured.