GILBERTON - A woman died after the car she was driving crashed into a house on Main Street, Route 4030, Friday afternoon.
Denise M. Blashock, 58, of Ashland, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at 3:16 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Tara Doldani, Sheppton.
State police at Frackville said Blashock was driving east at an extremely high rate of speed when she lost control of the car, which went off the road and across a lawn before slamming into the side of an abandoned house at 412 Main St.
The car drove completely into the house and caused significant structural damage to 412 Main St. and an attached house at 410 Main St.
Both homes have been vacant due to flooding in the borough in recent years. They were slated to be demolished next week, Gilberton Mayor Mary Lou Hannon said.
James Knorr lives near the crash site and ran from his home immediately after hearing a loud bang. He saw a hole in the side of the 412 Main St. home and the car inside with the engine still running.
"The engine was racing, I turned it off so it wouldn't catch fire," Knorr said.
Heavy duty rescue trucks were needed to stabilize the homes while rescuers cut the roof and doors off of the car.
Knorr said the woman was unconscious when he first got to the car, but began to moan and move slightly while emergency personnel were responding. After being trapped inside her car for about 45 minutes, the woman was removed by firefighters from Gilberton, Mahanoy City, Altamont, Frackville and Pottsville.
She succumbed to her injuries while being treated at the scene by paramedics from Shenandoah ALS and emergency personnel from Frackville EMS. A medical helicopter had been called and landed at the Mahanoy Plane ball field.
Hannon was visibly upset because she knew Blashock and her relatives.
"My heart goes out to the family," the mayor said.
Route 4030 was closed for more than an hour while emergency vehicles worked to remove the woman and then cordon off the buildings.