Vox Populi
10-27-2009, 11:13 AM
http://montgomerynews.com/articles/2009/10/27/springford_reporter_valley_item/doc4ae6de4661f96319531404.txt
WEST POTTSGROVE — A series of crashes on Route 422 Saturday may have been caused by two cars racing on the slick roadway, police said.
West Pottsgrove Police said two vehicles were seen traveling west on Route 422 at a high rate of speed around 9:10 p.m. Saturday just before the initial crash. Neither of the cars seen racing was involved in the resulting crashes and police are still searching for the vehicles.
One of the cars was described as a black Volkswagen Jetta with dull-colored wheels and the second was a silver or gray Nissan 350Z convertible. The convertible's roof was down at the time of the incident, police said. Both cars had loud, aftermarket exhaust systems, police said.
According to police, the accidents occurred as the two vehicles came upon a 2008 Mitsubishi Galant traveling in the lefthand lane of Route 422 west. The Volkswagen and Nissan passed the Mitsubishi, driven by Matthew Marvel, 24, of Pottstown, in the right lane, then cut back in front of Marvel's car, forcing him to brake suddenly, police said. It had stopped raining just before the crash occurred, police said.
The Mitsubishi did not strike the Nissan or Volkswagen, but because Marvel braked hard on the slick road, he lost control of the Mitsubishi, which spun 180 degrees and hit the guardrail, police said. The Mitsubishi slid along the guard rail, rear first, for about 61.5 feet when a back wheel or some other part of the car got caught on the guardrail and caused the car to flip over, front over back, and onto its roof, police said.
The Mitsubishi then slid down Route 422 west for another 298 feet before coming to rest on the righthand shoulder of the highway.
Both Marvel and his passenger, Richard Swymelar, 24, of Schwenskville, suffered minor injuries. They were taken to Phoenixville Hospital and discharged, police said. Marvel suffered a cut on his forehead and bruising to his ribs, police said.
Swymelar suffered from a dislocated or separated shoulder, police said.
After Marvel's car came to rest, a 2000 Buick Park Avenue, driven by Barry Kalbach, 65, of Sinking Spring, came upon the Mitsubishi as it traveled in the righthand lane of Route 422 west. Kalbach swerved to avoid the wreck, police said, but the wet road caused him to lose control of his vehicle. The Buick went off the road and hit a tree on the north side of the highway, police said.
Kalbach suffered minor injuries and had to be taken to Reading Hospital, where he was treated and released, police said.
A 1992 Subaru, driven by Elizabeth Staton, 18, of Reading, and carrying William Rudi, 18, of Boyertown, also came upon the wreckage of the Mitsubishi and swerved off the road after taking evasive action, police said. Neither Staton nor Rudi were injured, police said.
Around the same time, a 1998 Audi, operated by Raymond Abreu, 23, of Reading, was rearended by a 1998 Saturn, operated by Amy Putnam, 20, of Troy, Pa., as they headed west on 422 and came upon the crash, police said.
Neither of the drivers was injured, police said.
The Mitsubishi and Buick had to be towed from the scene, police said. The other three cars were able to be driven from the scene, police said.
Police are still investigating the exact timeline of the last three crashes.
Police had to close the road for two hours while they cleared the scene and investigated the crashes. Traffic was diverted onto Route 100.
None of the drivers involved in the crashes were facing citations, but the investigation is ongoing.
West Pottsgrove police ask anyone who may have been traveling through the area at the time of the crash and who may have seen either the Nissan or Volkswagen to contact them at 610-323-2090.
if you know either one of these two idiots I'd suggest turning them in.
WEST POTTSGROVE — A series of crashes on Route 422 Saturday may have been caused by two cars racing on the slick roadway, police said.
West Pottsgrove Police said two vehicles were seen traveling west on Route 422 at a high rate of speed around 9:10 p.m. Saturday just before the initial crash. Neither of the cars seen racing was involved in the resulting crashes and police are still searching for the vehicles.
One of the cars was described as a black Volkswagen Jetta with dull-colored wheels and the second was a silver or gray Nissan 350Z convertible. The convertible's roof was down at the time of the incident, police said. Both cars had loud, aftermarket exhaust systems, police said.
According to police, the accidents occurred as the two vehicles came upon a 2008 Mitsubishi Galant traveling in the lefthand lane of Route 422 west. The Volkswagen and Nissan passed the Mitsubishi, driven by Matthew Marvel, 24, of Pottstown, in the right lane, then cut back in front of Marvel's car, forcing him to brake suddenly, police said. It had stopped raining just before the crash occurred, police said.
The Mitsubishi did not strike the Nissan or Volkswagen, but because Marvel braked hard on the slick road, he lost control of the Mitsubishi, which spun 180 degrees and hit the guardrail, police said. The Mitsubishi slid along the guard rail, rear first, for about 61.5 feet when a back wheel or some other part of the car got caught on the guardrail and caused the car to flip over, front over back, and onto its roof, police said.
The Mitsubishi then slid down Route 422 west for another 298 feet before coming to rest on the righthand shoulder of the highway.
Both Marvel and his passenger, Richard Swymelar, 24, of Schwenskville, suffered minor injuries. They were taken to Phoenixville Hospital and discharged, police said. Marvel suffered a cut on his forehead and bruising to his ribs, police said.
Swymelar suffered from a dislocated or separated shoulder, police said.
After Marvel's car came to rest, a 2000 Buick Park Avenue, driven by Barry Kalbach, 65, of Sinking Spring, came upon the Mitsubishi as it traveled in the righthand lane of Route 422 west. Kalbach swerved to avoid the wreck, police said, but the wet road caused him to lose control of his vehicle. The Buick went off the road and hit a tree on the north side of the highway, police said.
Kalbach suffered minor injuries and had to be taken to Reading Hospital, where he was treated and released, police said.
A 1992 Subaru, driven by Elizabeth Staton, 18, of Reading, and carrying William Rudi, 18, of Boyertown, also came upon the wreckage of the Mitsubishi and swerved off the road after taking evasive action, police said. Neither Staton nor Rudi were injured, police said.
Around the same time, a 1998 Audi, operated by Raymond Abreu, 23, of Reading, was rearended by a 1998 Saturn, operated by Amy Putnam, 20, of Troy, Pa., as they headed west on 422 and came upon the crash, police said.
Neither of the drivers was injured, police said.
The Mitsubishi and Buick had to be towed from the scene, police said. The other three cars were able to be driven from the scene, police said.
Police are still investigating the exact timeline of the last three crashes.
Police had to close the road for two hours while they cleared the scene and investigated the crashes. Traffic was diverted onto Route 100.
None of the drivers involved in the crashes were facing citations, but the investigation is ongoing.
West Pottsgrove police ask anyone who may have been traveling through the area at the time of the crash and who may have seen either the Nissan or Volkswagen to contact them at 610-323-2090.
if you know either one of these two idiots I'd suggest turning them in.