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Lehighton state police report on crashes

State police at Lehighton have reported on the following crashes.

• A dump truck was involved in a crash on Friday at 1:25 p.m. along Lower Smith Gap Road in Palmerton. Troopers said Michael Paul Almazan, 56, no address given, was operating a dump truck owned by S&G Paving when he lost control of the brakes and failed to negotiate a curve and crashed. Troopers said Almazan had to be extricated from the vehicle but did not indicate if he required medical attention. Assisting troopers were volunteers from the Aquashicola Fire Company, Palmerton EMS unit and PennDOT employees.

• A one-vehicle crash was reported on Saturday along Pohopoco Drive in Towamensing Township, Carbon County. Troopers said Gage D. Houseknecht, 24, of Summit Hill, was driving a 2011 Hyundai Sonata westbound at a speed too fast for conditions when he lost control and struck a guide rail along the north berm. The Sonata then spun counterclockwise and overturned onto its roof where it came to rest. Houseknecht was not injured but his passenger, Paul K. David Jr., 23, of Tamaqua, sustained a minor injury and was taken by Palmerton ambulance to the Lehighton hospital. Trachsville Fire Company volunteers assisted at the scene. The Sonata had to be towed. Houseknecht was cited for driving a vehicle at a unsafe speed.

• Five people were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Sunday along Interchange Road (Route 209), in Franklin Township, at the entrance to the turnpike. Troopers said Azanae N. Mahdi-Westcott, 20, of Philadelphia, was driving a 2012 Toyota Camry northbound when it was rear-ended by a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Joshua R. Reynolds, 22, of Pittston, Luzerne County. Mahdi-Westcott and four passengers, all from Philadelphia, were injured and taken to the Lehighton hospital by Lehighton and Palmerton EMS units. Reynolds was not injured. Damages were disabling to both vehicles. Reynolds was cited for following too closely and Mahdi-Westcott for maximum speed limits.