PAXINOS - The length of the driver's side of an SUV was mostly sheared away after it side-swiped an oncoming dump truck near Stahl's roadside stand in Shamokin Township.
Jonathan L. Morgante, 28, of Mount Carmel, was rushed to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Coal Township, for emergency treatment following the collision at 10:50 a.m. along Route 61 near Juniper Road. He was wearing a seatbelt, police said.
Trooper David Townsend, state police at Stonington, said Morgante's injuries were moderate. A nursing supervisor said Thursday night Morgante was treated and released.
The highway was closed in both directions from the time of the crash until about 4 p.m.
Morgante was driving a 2004 GMC Envoy north when, according to a public information report from Townsend, he swerved for unknown reasons into the path of a southbound 1994 Mack CL-700 driven by Terry L. Shade, 61, of Milton.
Shade was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.
The dump truck is owned by Unico Sealing Inc., Lewisburg.
The impact shredded the Envoy's exterior and sent it careening into a stone retaining wall, coming to rest on its driver's side. Pieces of the SUV were scattered on the road. A spring from its suspension was laying at the side of the road as was a rear wheel still attached to a piece of the rear axle.
The dump truck hit a guide rail and blew at least two tires, and it leaked a large amount of diesel fuel onto the road.
According to witnesses, a dog was in the Envoy at the time of the crash and ran away after impact. The dog was later found by a bus driver and returned safely to its family.
Assisting at the scene were fire and rescue personnel from Stonington, Elysburg and Shamokin, Northumberland County Emergency Management, Elysburg and AREA Services ambulances.