SUNBURY - "Heartbreaking and tragic" were the words used by Mount Carmel Area School District administrators to describe Tuesday's car accident that claimed the life of 18-year-old Marcelle R. Barber, of Mount Carmel, who graduated from high school last month.
The 12:45 a.m. crash on Snydertown Road also caused injuries to three passengers, Tyler J. Karycki, 21, of Mount Carmel; Brianna L. Bailey, 18, of Kulpmont, and Hasan M. Abuomar, 19, of Mount Carmel.
"Marcelle was a quiet girl who had a large circle of friends," said high school Principal Lisa Varano. "She was a good student. This is just heartbreaking."
"The accident is very tragic," said Superintendent Bernie Stellar. "Marcelle was a very nice girl. Our sympathies go out to her family."
Stellar said school officials will be available for counseling for any students.
District hit hard
The school district has been hit hard during the past decade with multiple tragic deaths involving students, alumni, teachers and administrators resulting from vehicle accidents, drownings, drug overdoses, heart attacks and other causes.
"I don't know how many more tragedies we can take," Stellar said Tuesday during an interview at the high school.
Barber was employed as a hostess at Mattucci's Willow Cafe in Mount Carmel and reportedly was planning to take a year off from school. An employee at the popular borough restaurant and bar declined comment Tuesday in deference to Barber's family.
Car rolled
Trooper Mark Adams of state police at Stonington, who investigated the fatality, reported Barber was driving a black 2001 Pontiac Sunfire east when her car left the right side of the road. Police said the auto then returned to the highway, slid across both lanes and rolled onto its driver's side. The car was seen resting on its roof at the scene of the crash, wooden blocks placed underneath it by emergency responders to apparently raise it off the ground.
Barber, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash occurred between Anthracite Road and Cold Run Hollow Road in Upper Augusta Township, about 1.5 miles east of Sunbury.
Passengers
Police said Karycki and Bailey suffered moderate injuries and were transported by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Bailey was listed in serious condition Tuesday, while Karycki underwent emergency room treatment before being released.
Abuomar suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Sunbury Community Hospital, where he was treated and released.
The trooper did not indicate on his press release if the passengers were wearing seat belts. Police said air bags deployed for the front seats.
Karycki and Abuomar are 2011 MCA graduates and Bailey graduated from the school this year.
Personnel from Upper Augusta and Sunbury fire departments assisted state police at the scene of the crash until about 3:45 a.m.
Second since Sunday
This marks the second fatal accident on local roads in less than 48 hours. At 11:20 a.m. Sunday, a head-on crash on Route 54 just north of Elysburg claimed the life of Brian Stanley, 27, of 210 Quarry Road, Elysburg, a father of two. State police at Stonington said Stanley lost his life when the 1990 Toyota he was driving was struck head-on by a 1994 Dodge Dakota being driven by Christopher Long, 49, of Shamokin, just northwest of High Road.
Police said Long was driving west, left his lane of travel and drifted into the path of Stanley's pickup. Stanley was traveling east.
Long remained in critical condition Tuesday at Geisinger, while his 13-year-old male passenger was discharged from Geisinger Monday, according to a hospital spokeswoman.