Hazleton police are investigating a multiple-vehicle crash, in which two pedestrians were struck, following the city’s Independence Day celebration and fireworks at City View Park Sunday night.

A red Honda CR-V driven by Gerald Makarewicz, 76, collided with a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Amanda Hoegg, and then continued to move and struck two pedestrians at 10:05 p.m. near the intersection of South Poplar Street and the Arthur Gardner Highway, police said.

Makarewicz then proceeded north on South Poplar Street toward the Arthur Gardner Highway and collided with a Chevrolet Trax driven by Elizabeth De Los Santos Baez, and then collided with another CR-V driven by Jose Nunez-Tapia.

Hazleton police managed to stop Makarewicz’s vehicle on the road, officers said.

First aid was administered at the scene and a total of eight people were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton by multiple ambulances, including the struck pedestrians, Robert Hildenbrand and Michelle Skokowski.

All injuries were reported as minor, except for Skokowski who suffered moderate injuries, police said.

Detective Sgt. David Rodick was notified and responded to process the scene. The cause of the incident is still under investigation and further details will be released at a later date, police said.

— Kelly Monitz Socha