By FRANK ANDRUSCAVAGE
DEER LAKE - State police at Schuylkill Haven identified a woman killed in a violent three-vehicle crash Wednesday night.
Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner William Cairnes pronounced Sharon Barney, 59, of Old Forge, Lackawanna County, dead at the scene of the 8 p.m. crash.
Barney was a passenger in a vehicle driven by John Stambaugh, 49, of Reading, who suffered major injuries and was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, by helicopter.
Trooper James Nestico said the crash occurred at Routes 61 and 895 as Stambaugh was driving north on Route 61 approaching the intersection.
At the same time, Glen Cutshaw, 50, of Hampton, N.J., was trying to turn left onto Route 895 from the center turn lane of Route 61.
Nestico said Stambaugh's vehicle struck the rear of Cutshaw's vehicle and spun clockwise about 90 degrees into the southbound lane of Route 61.
Stambaugh's vehicle eventually began to roll and became airborne with its roof landing on the hood of a vehicle that was being driven south on Route 61 by Cody Zimmerman, 32, of Port Clinton.
Zimmerman was flown to Reading Hospital by helicopter for treatment of moderate injuries, Nestico said.
Three passengers in Zimmerman's vehicle, Kelly Zimmerman, 30, and two boys ages 6 and 2, also from Port Clinton, all suffered minor injuries and were taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for treatment. Police said both Cody and Kelly Zimmerman were wearing seat belts along with the 6-year-old in their vehicle while the 2-year-old was in a child safety seat.
Cutshaw was not hurt, Nestico said.
The impact caused Barney, who was not wearing a seat belt, to be thrown from the vehicle, Nestico said.
Orwigsburg and Deer Lake-West Brunswick Township firefighters and Auburn EMS assisted at the scene, Nestico said, adding that the investigation into the crash is continuing.
An attempt to reach Nestico or a patrol supervisor at the Schuylkill Haven to determine if speed played a role in the crash was unsuccessful Thursday.