A tragedy happened on Route 209 Monday afternoon between Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe.

A police cruiser collided with a car, resulting in the death of 69-year-old Carola Sauers. She was a passenger in a car driven by Michael Sauers, age 64. Michael Sauers was seriously injured.The police officer also suffered injuries.The investigation is in its preliminary stages, so full details aren't available.As with any sensational event, there are conflicting reports.There was one report that the crash happened during a chase.Another report, made off the record, said this isn't true, that the Nesquehoning police officer had been investigating an incident, a car was stopped in Jim Thorpe, and police were en route from Nesquehoning to Jim Thorpe when the crash happened.Was speed involved?This is one of the things that has to be determined by the investigation. If there was no chase, and speed was a factor, then charges should be filed against the officer. Again, this is something that must come from a full investigation.One thing for certain is that an innocent woman is dead and another man who had no involvement in the police proceedings is badly injured.Could such an incident have been avoided?Obviously when we hear of such reports, we think what if that had been our family on Route 209 at that time?Police have to respond in a hurry to some incidents, but is that the case here?The investigation has been turned over to state police, which is considered an unbiased investigating agency when it comes to probing incidents involving local police.The main thing is that the public has to be kept informed during the course of the investigation. Transparency is important.If there was a chase, certainly those individuals fleeing the police must bear some responsibility. However, how can they be held accountable if they already were in custody several miles away?Carola Sauers was apparently an innocent victim in the whole scenario. That's one thing that cannot be ignored.By RON GOWERrgower@tnonline.com