Three people were injured during a two-car accident shortly after 11 a.m. today on Route 443 in front of the TIMES NEWS building in Mahoning Township.

William Graver, 83, of Big Creek, Franklin Township, was flown by PennStar helicopter to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem for what was reported to be majjor injuries.A passenger in Graver's car, Perma Graver, 81, was transported by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest.In the second car, Rebecca Boyer, was also taken to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, by ambulance.According to police in Mahoning Township, Graver was exiting the parking lot of the TIMES NEWS and pulled into the path of a westbound Dodge Neon, driven by Boyer, 28, of Tamaqua.Police said none of the people involved in the accident were wearing seat belts. In addition, the air bag failed to deploy in Boyer's car.Graver was driving a Toyota Corolla.The roadway was closed for about 45 minutes because of the accident.Passers-by immediately stopped and assisted at the scene until police and other emergency personnel arrived on the scene. Among them was an off-duty nurse.All the occupants had to be extricated from their respective vehicles. This was done with power tools utilized by personnel from the Mahoning Valley and Lehighton Fire Departments.Also responding were the Mahoning Valley Ambulance as well as paramedics and EMTs (emergency medical technicians) from the Lehighton Ambulance Corps.