One dead, two injured in I-80 vehicle crash

GREENE TOWNSHIP — A one-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 Friday afternoon left one vehicle occupant dead and two injured. The mishap in the westbound lanes between the Lock Haven and Jersey Shore exits caused a detour around the crash site during the afternoon hours.

State police at Lamar identified the driver as Ellwood Holmes, 72, of Philadelphia. Their report said he was westbound in the left lane at mile marker 191 and had passed a tractor-trailer and was in the process of passing another when for unknown reasons he jerked the vehicle to the left; he attempted to correct that by driving back to the right; the vehicle swerved and began to roll over, rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, coming to rest on its wheels on the south side of the road.

Holmes and a passenger, Eva Lipp, 64 of Philadelphia had what police described as suspected serious injuries. Both were Life-Flighted to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. A second passenger, Margaret Schmidt, 59, of Philadelphia was pronounced dead at the scene by Jennifer and Dustin Sholley from the Clinton County Coroner’s office. Police said Schmidt was not wearing a seatbelt, the survivors were.

Police said assistance at the scene was provided by the Goodwill Hose Ambulance and the Sugar Valley Fire Co.