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Icy roads are blamed for weekend crashes

Icy road conditions on Sunday were blamed for at least three of five crashes investigated by state police at Lehighton, including a hit and run.

Troopers probed a crash about 11:54 a.m. along Long Run Road in Franklin Township, Carbon County. Troopers said Nicole Haller, 22, of Jim Thorpe, was driving a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix eastbound when she lost control while negotiating a right curve and spun around due to icy conditions. The car went onto the berm and struck a tree along the left shoulder. The car then spun around and had a secondary collision with a rock embankment on the right shoulder.Haller was injured and taken to the Blue Mountain Health Systems Gnaden Huetten Campus, Lehighton. Troopers were assisted by Franklin Township Fire Company volunteers and Palmerton EMS unit.A crash was reported at 12:03 p.m. along Club Road, just east of SR248, in Towamensing Township, Carbon County. Troopers said Lisa Ann Kistler, 40, of Palmerton, was driving a 2004 Ford Escape westbound when she lost control due to icy conditions. The vehicle left the north side and struck a tree. Kistler and her 4-year-old daughter sustained minor injuries but were treated at the scene. A 3-year-old daughter was not injured.Troopers were assisted at the scene by Aquashicola Fire Company volunteers and Palmerton EMS unit.A two-vehicle crash was reported at 1:40 p.m. also along Long Run Road in Franklin Township. Troopers said Katherine Jane Doran, 55, of Jim Thorpe, was driving a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer eastbound when she lost control while negotiating a right curve and spun around due to icy conditions. Her vehicle struck a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado parked on the left shoulder of the road.Two passengers, Anthony Michael Doran, 55, and a 6-year-old child, were injured and taken to the Lehighton hospital by the Lehighton EMS unit. Franklin Fire Company volunteers assisted at the scene.Damages were disabling to the Blazer.Troopers reported investigating a crash about 11:53 a.m. along Oak Road, just east of SR248, in Towamensing Township. Troopers said Mary L. Yezierski, 53, of Palmerton, was westbound when a second vehicle, traveling east, while going downhill entered her lane when the driver lost control. Yezierski attempted to avoid a collision and braked and steered her 2007 Nissan Altima to the right where it struck a tree with the front end.Yezierski received minor injuries in the crash with the Nissan was towed from the scene.The hit-and-run was reported at 1:40 p.m. A vehicle was driven westbound on Long Run Road in Franklin Township while a 1999 Mercury was stopped on the right shoulder unattended. The driver lost control while negotiating a right curve and spun around crashing into the Mercury.After impact the driver fled the scene eastbound.The hit-and-run driver was described as a white male, in his late 20s, with blonde hair and wearing glasses. The hit-and-run vehicle is believed to be a 1994-95 model Ford Taurus, silver in color, and should have damage to the rear end, taillight and bumper areas. Damages were minor to the Mercury.Anyone with information concerning this crash is asked to call troopers at (610) 377-4270.

LARRY NEFF/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS Motorists traveling throughout the area Sunday morning were surprised to find roadways covered with ice and several paid the price. One of the first of numerous accidents reported was along Route 54 in Rush Township, Schuylkill County. A sport utility vehicle traveling west near the entrance of Lake Hauto slid on an ice-covered roadway, leaving the right berm impacting with and snapping off a utility pole. Rush Township Fire Police closed the roadway. Rush Township fire police are investigating the incident.