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State police investigate crashes in Schuylkill County

State police at Frackville reported on the following crashes investigated by troopers:

• A one-vehicle crash was reported at 2:44 p.m. on June 16 along Route 309 in Kline Township. Troopers said Denzell A. Carswell, 29, of Lansford, was driving a 2012 Ford Escape westbound and said he was listening to his GPS on his way to Wilkes-Barre. While westbound the GPS told him to exit 309, which he said he could not make the exit and subsequently hit the guide rail on the south side of the road.

Carswell and his passenger, Victoria R. Obitz, 21, of Wilkes-Barre, were not injured. The vehicle sustained heavy damage to the front end and had to be towed.

Troopers cited Carswell for the crash.

• A crash was reported about 5:30 p.m. on June 24, along Interstate 81 in Ryan Township. Troopers said William B. Evans, 63, of Mountain Top, was driving a 2004 Jeep Liberty northbound when he claimed he experienced a vehicle failure which caused him to lose control. He said the left-front tire blew out. The Jeep went onto the left berm and impacted with guide rails. Evans sustained suspected minor injury and was treated at the scene by Ryan Township ambulance personnel. The Jeep was towed.

Schuylkill Haven

State police at Schuylkill Haven reported investigating the following crashes on Schuylkill County roadways, both occurring on June 23.

• At 3:26 p.m. Michael L. Christy, 52, of Schuylkill Haven, was driving a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic northbound on Peach Mountain Road in Norwegian Township, when his vehicle went onto the east berm. The vehicle traveled along the berm and down an embankment before striking several small trees where it came to rest.

Troopers said after striking the trees Christy was able to exit the vehicle and it is believed he suffered an unknown type of medical issue and collapsed at the top of the embankment before the vehicle burst into flames.

Christy was transported to the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

• A two-vehicle crash was reported at 6:12 p.m. along Route 61, at the intersection with Route 895, in Deer Lake Borough. Troopers said Michael D. Smith, 29, of Orwigsburg, was driving a 2016 Mazda 3 eastbound on 895 and had a steady red light. Mitchell L. Rice, 23, of Orwigsburg, driving a 2004 Subaru Forester, was northbound on 61 and had a steady green light. Smith failed to stop for the red light and entered the intersection where his Mazda struck Forester. After impact the Subaru continued north and was able to be pulled onto the berm by Rice. After impact the Mazda spun counterclockwise through the intersection and then struck a bridge abutment on the right side, where it came to rest.

Smith was injured and taken to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest. Rice was not injured.

Smith was cited for the red light violation.

• A one-vehicle crash at 6:31 p.m. June 16 on Spruce Drive in Pine Grove Township resulted in a 22-year-old woman being injured and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

State police at the Schuylkill Haven barracks said Brittany L. Kireta sustained suspected minor injuries to her forehead but refused emergency medical services treatment at the scene.

Police said she was driving a 2005 Subaru Impreza southbound and was going around a curve in the road when the vehicle left the road and hit a utility pole. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Kireta was charged after showing signs of impairment at the scene, police said.