FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - A Coal Township businessman, who had to be extricated from his car that landed in a corn field, and a Kulpmont woman suffered minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash Christmas Eve on Route 487 at a curve just east of Shady Creek Road near Southern Columbia Area High School.
Locust Township Patrolman Joseph Samuels said icy road conditions may have contributed to the 9:47 p.m. crash.
Samuels said Earl Sheriff, 60, of 4 Firehall Road, Buckhorn, owner-operator of Irish Isle Provision Co., Coal Township, was driving a 2012 Toyota Camry north toward Catawissa when a 2010 Ford Fusion driven south toward Elysburg by Kellie Evans, 21, of 407 Spruce St., Kulpmont, entered Sheriff's lane of travel and struck his car nearly head-on.
After the collision, Sheriff's auto traveled into a corn field, where it came to rest. Samuels said emergency personnel had to cut three doors from the car to free Sheriff from the wreckage. Sheriff was trapped inside the car for about 20 minutes.
Evans' car spun around and came to a halt in the middle of the highway.
The officer said Sheriff and Evans, who both suffered minor injuries, were transported by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where they underwent emergency room treatment before being released.
Samuels said Sheriff is currently wearing a neck brace.
Sheriff's girlfriend, Marlene Laird of Buckhorn, escaped injury.
At the time of the accident, Samuels said the majority of both lanes of the highway at the curve were ice covered.
Evans told police she lost control of her car while on her way to work, but didn't recall anything after that. Sheriff said he spotted Evans' vehicle coming toward him in his lane of travel and was almost at a complete stop when the accident occurred.
The accident caused the highway to be closed for more than an hour.
Evans' auto was towed to Tire Ranch in Elysburg, while Sheriff's car was removed from the scene by Ridge Road Towing in Catawissa.
Samuels said the accident remains under investigation.
Assisting at the scene were fire police, firefighters from Catawissa Hose Company and Elysburg Fire Company, and emergency medical technicians from Southside Area Ambulance and Elysburg Ambulance.