A Sunday afternoon snowstorm was blamed for multiple accidents in the area.
Several inches of snow accumulated during the storm. The heaviest snowfall began about 3 p.m., and reports of crashes followed shortly thereafter.
The most serious of the accidents occurred about 3:30 p.m. on the Merriam-Mount Carmel Highway in Mount Carmel Township.
Rachel Bobenreith, 29, of Shamokin was driving a 2003 Chrysler Sebring toward Mount Carmel when she lost control of the vehicle, according to township Patrolman Kelly Campbell. It reportedly spun in a circle into the oncoming lane and into the path of Charles Matern, 57, of Frackville, who couldn't stop his 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe in time to avoid a collision.
The Santa Fe struck the Sebring's rear driver-side.
Bobenreith and a passenger, a 9-year-old Shamokin girl who was extricated from the vehicle, each suffered injuries. So did Matern's passenger, 46-year-old Mary Garraway, of Frackville. All three were taken by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
Bobenreith was being treated at the hospital's emergency department Sunday evening while Garraway was treated and released, according to a nursing supervisor.
A 4-year-old Shamokin boy, also a passenger of Bobenreith's, and Matern did not report an injury, Campbell said.
Both vehicles were towed.
The roadway was closed for 1 1/2 hours.
Assisting at the scene was Mount Carmel Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush and personnel from Mount Carmel Rescue Squad, Locust Gap Fire Co. and AREA Services.
Campbell said several other non-reportable accidents occurred in Mount Carmel Township due to the weather, including one on the Natalie Mountain.
Two crashes occurred on Route 61 in Coal Township within about 15 minutes.
The first at about 3:15 p.m. happened when a 2004 Ford Focus driven by Ryan Bourinski, 21, of Coal Township, slid off the highway's northbound lane and into a utility pole near Center Street, Tharptown.
The second occurred just about 3:30 p.m. when a Ford Taurus driven by Naomi Saga, 57, of Coal Township, slid off the highway's southbound lane and struck a guide rail at the red light near McDonald's.
No injuries were reported in either accident.
In Ralpho Township, there was a report of a black car stuck on Route 54 near Sleepy Hollow Road that posed a hazard to other motorists.
