A male driver was airlifted following a violent single-vehicle crash that occurred one mile west of Tamaqua on Route 209 in Walker Township just before 8:45 p.m. Saturday night.

Reportedly, while driving a red Pontiac Grand Am west on SR209, Pottsville Stretch, at a high rate of speed, Chris Cataldi, 23, of Tamaqua, swerved off the road and crashed wildly into multiple trees locatedon the westbound side of Route 209. The force of the crash severed the car completely in half and threw Cataldi out of the vehicle and into adjacent woods.

Witnesses to the accident, who were a good distance away, stated they saw a huge ball of smoke and dust as the car crashed into the trees. More than 100 feet of tire tracks could also be seen in the grass leading up to the accident scene.A Medivac helicopter landed on SR209, a half mile west of the accident, to transport Cataldi to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest.

Cataldi suffered injuries to his head, leg and other areas.Unsure if there were any other people ejected from the vehicle, firefighters and police, using flashlights, spotlights and TICs (thermal imaging cameras), organized a wide perimeter search as they checked treetops and thick brush on both sides of SR209 for anybody else who might have been thrown from the vehicle.

Firefighters utilized chainsaws to cut through fallen trees that surrounded the car, while Tamaqua Rescue Squad volunteers used hydraulic lifters to check under both sections of the vehicle. The impact was so powerful that rescuers found the car's hood in the grass on the other side of the road.

Two flatbed trucks had to be used to remove both sections of the car.Responding, in addition to Tamaqua Police and Pennsylvania State Police, were firefighters and rescuers from Tamaqua, Tuscarora, Mary D and others.

Also responding were paramedics from Tamaqua, Ryan Township and Lehighton.Dr. Peter Baddick III, who came across the accident, was also quick to assist with immediate medical treatment. Cataldi's condition was unavailable as of press time this morning. Tamaqua Fire Police secured the area and detoured traffic around Route 209 for the duration.