RIVERSIDE - Six people including an ambulance patient en route to Geisinger Medical Center escaped injury in Wednesday morning's three-vehicle accident along Route 54 at the "Narrows" that closed down the highway for an hour.
Riverside Police Chief Isaac Ramer reported Ryan Strohecker, 28, of Kulpmont, was driving an AREA Services Ambulance west on Route 54 shortly before 8 a.m. when it passed several vehicles with its emergency lights and siren activated. Ramer said John Nardko, 48, of Danville, who was traveling east on the highway, pulled his 2005 Pontiac onto the side of the road to make room for the ambulance. The police chief said Trevor Williamson, 24, of Bloomsburg, who was operating a 2011 Honda behind Nardko's car, was unable to stop in time and crashed into the rear of the Pontiac, which was pushed into the ambulance.
Williamson's Honda then flipped onto its roof and came to rest in the middle of the highway.
All three vehicles were towed.
Strohecker, emergency medical technicians Patrick Burns, 29, of Kulpmont, and Greg Moran, 35, of Pottsville, and their passenger, Donn Lorenz, 65, of Shamokin, escaped injury. Following the accident, Lorenz was transported by Danville Ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center.
Nardko and Williamson also were not hurt.
Ramer, whose investigation is continuing, was assisted at the scene by Danville police and members of Southside Fire Company.
The police chief warned motorists traveling in the area to expect delays due to a painting project on the Danville-Riverside Bridge.