North PA Car Accidents Claim 2 Lives

Last weekend, separate crashes claimed the lives of two north-central Pennsylvania residents – a 24-year-old Avis man and a 21-year-old Lewisburg man, according to the Williamsport Sun Gazette.

Union County Coroner Wanda Walters pronounced Rodney E. Merrifield Jr., of Avis, dead at the scene of a car crash that injured five other people at the intersection of Route 45 at Johnson Mill Road, near Lewisburg, in Buffalo Township, Union County.

Prior to the 11:15 p.m. crash, Merrifield had pulled his Subaru Forester off to the south berm of Route 45, across from its intersection with Johnson Mill Road.

Meanwhile, Ross A. Jarrett, 67, of Mifflinburg, was traveling east, along with four passengers in his Toyota Tundra, along Route 45, heading toward where Merrifield had parked. The collision occurred as Merrifield attempted to turn left, possibly to travel onto Johnson Mill Road. Jarrett’s vehicle traveled head-on into Merrifield’s driver’s side door, according to reports. Merrifield’s passenger, Michael P. Bowes, 24, of Jersey Shore, suffered moderate injuries. Two of his passengers, Qaisha Jacobs Naveaz, 31, and Deja Jacobs, 18, both of Lewisburg, suffered moderate injuries.

In a separate incident, 21-year-old Jacob Parkes, of Lewisburg, died in a one-vehicle crash at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday in Union County, near Allenwood. Parkes was driving a Jeep Wrangler south on Route 15, just north of Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland, when he failed to negotiate a left-hand curve. His vehicle traveled off the right side of the road, up an embankment and continued parallel to the road before hitting a metal traffic light pole on the driver’s side door. It continued about 200 feet and struck another utility pole before stopping.

Parkes was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:10 a.m. by Union County Coroner Wendy Walters. His passenger, Andrew Renner, 22, of Winfield, suffered moderate injuries and was in serious condition Sunday evening at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, according to officials there.

Do you believe that either of these accidents and injuries could have been prevented? If so, how?

Recovering after a car crash can be very difficult and having to deal with insurance companies and other headaches can further complicate things. If you need some legal advice following a car accident, contact a personal injury lawyer from Schmidt Kramer today. Our accident attorneys have many years of experience and can provide an honest assesment of your claim. Your initial consultation is free and we charge no upfront fees if we take on your case.

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