WEIGH SCALES - A Shenandoah woman whose SUV landed on its roof during a crash Saturday was the most seriously injured among six people involved in the accident, including two young children.
Ralpho Township Patrolman Chris Dailey said Jessica Gavin, 37, of Schuylkill Avenue, Shenandoah, was driving a black Land Rover south on Route 61 toward Shamokin at about 7:15 p.m. when the passenger side rear of the SUV collided with the driver's side front of a red Dodge Neon driven in the right lane in the same direction by Tatjana Taupaze Simmons, 22, of Sunbury. The accident occurred on Route 61 near Split Vein Coal Company.
After the collision, Simmons, whose two sons, Jaylon Simmons, 4, and Jace Singleton, 8 months, were in child restraint seats in the back, was able to steer her car safely onto the right side of the road. After colliding with the car, the Land Rover flipped onto its roof and skidded off the right side of the highway, which is two lanes where the accident occurred. The SUV came to rest facing north.
Gavin was bleeding from the left side of her head upon being freed from the wreckage. She was transported by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Her passengers, Salvatore Bruno and Gianna Bruno, 13, of the same address, reportedly suffered minor injuries and went to the hospital with Gavin.
Simmons, who was wearing a seat belt, experienced head pain, while her two sons escaped injury. Simmons, who said she suffered a concussion recently in another incident, said she planned to seek medical treatment at a local hospital.
All six people were evaluated by medical personnel at the scene.
Nurse first on scene
Jessica Wisloski, 37, of Elysburg, a pediatric nurse at Geisinger Medical Center who was returning home from shopping, was the first person on scene and provided medical assistance and comfort to the accident victims.
"I pulled over right away upon seeing the accident and went over to the woman (Gavin) in the SUV because she appeared to be hurt the worst," Wisloski said. "After emergency medical personnel arrived and tended to the woman and other people in the SUV, I walked over to the car and comforted the woman and her two small children. The woman was obviously shaken up and complained of dizziness."
Simmons' two sons didn't seem fazed by the accident and smiled and laughed several times at Wisloski while she comforted them and their mother.
Simmons, who was traveling toward Shamokin, said, "It happened so fast. I have some head pain, but my boys are OK."
Dailey, who measured off lengthy skid marks at the scene, said he wasn't exactly sure how the accident occurred or who was at fault. Judging by the damage on both vehicles, it appears the Land Rover was either in the passing lane or had passed the car when the collision occurred.
The officer said the crash remains under investigation.
The Land Rover was towed from the scene by Tire Ranch. The Neon also was towed.
Assisting Ralpho Township police at the scene were fire and emergency personnel from Elysburg and Overlook, Elysburg Ambulance and AREA Services.
Traffic was slowed in both directions for more than an hour, but the highway was passable since both vehicles came to rest on the side of the road.
The scene was cleared at approximately 9 p.m.