PSP Issue Update in Fatal Buggy-Truck Collision
LOGAN TOWNSHIP — State police have provided additional and revised information on the Friday evening truck-Amish buggy accident on Winter Road in Sugar Valley that left two buggy occupants dead and four more badly hurt.
Clinton County Coroner Zach Hanna identified the dead as 36-year-old Rachel Beiler of Loganton and her 8-year-old son David. Cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma.
Four other occupants of the Beiler buggy sustained what police said were major injuries. They included the buggy driver, Aaron Beiler, 37 of Loganton, along with a 13-year-old male, a 14-year-old female and an 11-year-old female.
Suffering minor injuries in the crash was the driver of a UPS truck, Sherry Croak, 55, of Lock Haven. Police in their initial report said she would be cited for careless driving but an updated report said “at this point no charges have been filed as this investigation continues.” She was reported to have suffered moderate injuries, the truck disabling damage.
Investigating officer John Schall said the truck was eastbound on W. Winter Road near Brothers Lane. For some unknown reason, the report said, the truck drifted into the path of the westbound, horse-drawn enclosed Beiler buggy. According to the police report, the front left section of the truck “struck the left horse shaft (the rail that goes alongside the horse) on the left side of the horse,” disabling the truck. The impact caused the buggy to overturn while the truck continued on until running into a tree.
The crash occurred at about 6:45 p.m. Friday. The injured were Life-Flighted to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. A spokesman there said Aaron Beiler was in serious condition today; conditions on the other buggy occupants were not immediately available.
Others assisting at the accident scene were Sugar Valley EMS and fire, Goodwill Hose, Miles Township EMS and fire, Jersey Shore EMS and fire and several LifeFlight units from Geisinger Medical Center.
The truck was removed from the scene by Bressler’s Towing while the Amish community this morning removed the disabled buggy and the deceased horse from the accident site several miles west of the Beiler residence. Scores of the Amish community were seen calling on the Beiler home this morning.
On Sunday, Geisinger officials have indicated that Aaron Beiler’s situation has improved and is now designated to be in fair condition.
