ZERBE TOWNSHIP - Two women were injured, with one having to be airlifted to a local hospital, in an all-terrain vehicle accident in Zerbe Township Saturday afternoon.
Authorities at the scene reported Courtney Barret, 28, of Elkton, Md., was flown via Life Flight helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, for treatment. Another rider on the ATV, Aubrey Bennet. 30, also from Elkton, Md., was transported to Geisinger with head and back injuries.
According to Zerbe Township Fire Chief Ed Reed, the two women were riding the same ATV at approximately 1:30 p.m. when the accident occurred. They were riding with a group from the Elkton area on Reading Anthracite grounds.
"The people they were riding with weren't sure if they were coming down or going up a hill, but the ATV flipped over and threw them off," Reed said.
It was not known which woman was driving, Reed said. Their companions drove the two women to the area known as "The Flats" where they were administered first aid before emergency crews reached them. They transferred Barret, who sustained multiple injuries, from an ambulance to the Zerbe Township Athletic Field and the waiting helicopter.
Barret was listed in fair condition Saturday evening, according to a hospital nursing supervisor. No report was available for Bennet.
Reed said information on the crash has been turned over to state police for further investigation.
Responding to the call were firefighters and emergency crews from Trevorton and Coal Township and ambulance and rescue units from both municipalities.