Four killed in weekend crashes
Four people were killed in crashes over the weekend.
A one-vehicle crash on Andreas Road in West Penn Township early Sunday morning resulted in the death of Bryn Watkins, 21, of Coaldale.Watkins was operating a black Nissan Titan pick up truck around 2:45 a.m., when he lost control. The pick up truck struck a utility pole and rolled over, ejecting Watkins from the cab.He was pronounced dead at the scene by Schuylkill County Coroner Larry Neff.West Penn Township Police are investigating the incident. Assisting at the scene were personnel from the West Penn Township Fire Company, West Penn Township Fire Police, Penn-Mahoning Ambulance, Lehighton Ambulance and Soley's Garage.Watkins was a 2011 graduate of Panther Valley High School.State police at Frackville said two people were killed in a head-on collision at 3:41 p.m. along SR1008 (Morea Road), in Mahanoy Township.Troopers identified the victims as Daniel Jackson, 61, and his passenger, Robin Capone, 52, both of Mahanoy City.Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene while Capone was taken to the Schuylkill Medical Center-S. Jackson St., Pottsville, where she was pronounced dead.Troopers said Jackson was driving a 2002 Ford Taurus eastbound when, for unknown reasons, he veered onto the south shoulder. He attempted to veer back onto the road when the Ford started to spin out of control in a counter-clockwise direction.The Ford then crossed into the westbound lane where the passenger side front collided with the front of a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. After impact the Passat traveled in a northern direction and came to rest along the north shoulder facing south.Jackson was reportedly ejected from his vehicle and found lying on the road. Capone reportedly was partially ejected from the vehicle.The driver of the Passat was identified as David Pedron, 55, of Pottsville. He was taken to SMC-S with non-life threatening injuries. His passenger, who was not identified by troopers, was flown by medical helicopter to the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, also for non-life threatening injuries.Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David Moylan said Jackson died of blunt force trauma to the head and chest, and Capone died of blunt force trauma to the chest.Assisting troopers at the scene were Mahanoy City fire companies and ambulance, and Frackville and Shenandoah EMS units. The road was shutdown for about three hours.The investigation into the crash is continuing.A New Tripoli man died after his car was struck from behind while it was parked along Route 22 at about 5 a.m. Saturday.Mark Durrenberger, 56, of 6845 Flint Hill Road, was pronounced dead as an inpatient of St. Luke's Hospital Fountain Hill Campus.Lehigh County Chief Deputy Coroner Paul F. Hoffman Sr. said Durrenberger died of multiple blunt force trauma. The manner of death has been ruled accidental.Durrenberger was the operator of a vehicle that was stopped on the side of Route 22 Eastbound, in the area of Schoenersville Road when his vehicle was struck from behind.In addition to the coroner's office, the Pennsylvania State Police Bethlehem Barracks is also investigating this incident.