Turnpike crashes
State police at the Pocono barracks reported the following crashes on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike:
• The driver of a 2019 Kenworth W9 that was carrying an excavator when it struck a bridge overpass at mile marker 93.9 in Kidder Township was cited.
Police said the rig was northbound when the incident occurred at 7:47 p.m. June 15. They said the overpass had minor damage.
• Three drivers and four passengers were injured in a four-vehicle pileup at 2:25 p.m. June 27 at mile marker 83 in Penn Forest Township. A fourth driver escaped injuries.
The seven people were transported by personnel from the Lehighton Ambulance Association to the St. Luke’s Hospital, Carbon Campus, Franklin Township. Police said the severities of their injuries are unknown.
The drivers were John E. Soboleski, 38, of Hanover Township; Emma J. Smith, 22, of Scranton; and Mason W. Kenia, 34, of Dickson City.
The passengers included a 6-year-old girl from Hanover Township, who was with Soboleski, and Jonathan M. Smith, 21, of Scranton, and Lucas R. Koch, 21, of Plant City, Florida, who were passengers with Emma Smith; and Cheryl A. Ferguson, 68, of Newtown Square, who was a passenger in a vehicle driven by A.P. Ferguson, 80, of Newtown Square, who was uninjured. Also not hurt was Ashleigh E. Soboleski, 38, of Hanover Township, who was another passenger with John Soboleski.
Police said the pileup occurred when all four vehicles were northbound on the turnpike extension. They said Emma Smith stopped the 2021 Toyota Highlander she was operating due to a crash ahead of traffic. A 2008 Honda Pilot driven by Kenia struck the Highlander from behind, and then struck a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee operated by John Soboleski. The Honda continued north onto the right shoulder of the highway, where it struck a concrete barrier and came to rest.
Police said that after the impact, the Grand Cherokee spun counterclockwise and struck a concrete barrier on the right shoulder and a 2022 Dodge Ram driven by Ferguson. The Ram then struck a concrete barrier on the right shoulder of the road.