In Pennsylvania last week six people were killed in an auto accident when an SUV drove into oncoming traffic on a highway. Among those killed were two children.
The Jeep Liberty, driven by Kathy Douglas, 36, of Kane, PA, crossed through the center line around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in northwestern Pennsylvania. The vehicle was in the Allegheny National Forest and hit a Pontiac Bonneville, driven Gary Beimel, 62. Douglas’ daughter and nephew were killed, and four passengers in the Bonneville were killed as well.
Occupants of the car who were killed were the driver, Gary Beimel, and passengers David Cuneo, 54, Florence Donachy, 81, Elaine Beimel, 55. All were residents of nearby St. Marys.
All six of those who were killed died from blunt force trauma and were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to McKean County Coroner Michael Cahill.
Douglas and her ten year old son were both seriously injured, and tragically, her nephew Jarrett Costanzo, 6, and her daughter Olivia Douglas, 12, died. Douglas’ son was taken to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for treatment. As of Sunday night, Douglas was reported to be in serious condition.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing but Trooper Roger McCloskey, who is participating in the investigation, said that it does appear that Douglas was at fault for causing the accident and she will most likely face charges of some kind. McCloskey also said that three of the individuals who were killed were apparently not wearing seatbelts, though both Gary Beimel and Douglas were both wearing seatbelts.
An accident in Massachusetts also injured six on Friday, September 6. Two adults and four teens were rushed to the hospital after a crash in Jamaica Plain on the Arborway. The highly trafficked roadway needed to be closed for the evening after the multiple vehicle accident that resulted in a rollover.
It appears that an SUV that was carrying the four teens crossed over the center line and drove into oncoming traffic, where it hit a pickup truck. The accident happened in the afternoon around 2 p.m.
According to Nick Martin, Boston Public Health Commission spokesman, there were six patients total taken to three different hospitals. One patient was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, two were taken to Boston Children’s Hospital, and another patient was taken to Boston Medical Center. The remaining injured individuals were taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Names of the individuals have not been released, but three of the teens were under 18 years old and were classified as pediatric. Martin reported that he knew two of the victims to be in critical condition but had not heard news regarding the level of severity of the injuries of the others involved in the crash.
