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Police release details in Banks Township fatal crash

Perla M. Decena Castillo, 19, of McAdoo, died in a one-vehicle crash Saturday at 12:16 a.m. on Main Street in Banks Township.

State police at the Hazleton barracks identified the victim in an incident, saying she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The county coroner’s office, whose representative pronounced Decena Castilla dead at 1:41 a.m., said an autopsy was scheduled to take place Monday at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Forensics Center.

Police said the crash occurred when Endy Rodriguez Sanchez, 21, of Beaver Meadows, was driving a 2011 Honda CRV west on Main Street and was negotiating a curve to the left. They said he began to lose control of the car, which entered the opposite lane. When the driver attempted to counter-steer, police said, he lost control of the car, at which time the steering unit of the car caused the vehicle to rotate clockwise.

Police said the car crossed over the westbound lane and onto the shoulder, where it dropped down a small embankment and struck several trees. Police said after the impact, the car spun counter-clockwise and rolled onto its driver’s side where it came to a final uncontrolled rest.

Police said at the time of the crash the car was occupied by two passengers. They said Decena Castillo was sitting on the lap of Rodriguez Sanchez, while Francisco D. Heronimo, 28, whose address police did not provide, was positioned in the right passenger’s side seat. He was taken to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Hazleton, to be treated for what police said were minor injuries.

When police and emergency personnel arrived at the scene, Decena Castillo was located trapped underneath the vehicle.

They said Rodriguez Sanchez also had minor injuries and was also transported to the hospital. They said it is suspected he was driving under the influence.

This accident remains an active investigation involving the a State Police Reconstruction Unit, the Carbon County Coroner’s Office and the Carbon County District Attorney’s Office.

Police were assisted at the scene by personnel from the McAdoo Fire Company, the Lehigh Valley Health Network EMS corps, Hazleton, Carbon County Fire Police, Schuylkill County Fire Police and a local towing service.