Update: The Pennsylvania State Police released additional details Wednesday. The fleeing vehicle was operated by a juvenile male, who sustained major injuries. A 19-year-old woman from Rome, New York, and another juvenile male were passengers in the vehicle. The woman suffered major injuries, while the second juvenile was critically injured.
Two people in a second vehicle sustained moderate injuries, while occupants of a third vehicle were not hurt.
Investigators say the fleeing vehicle struck the second car, which then collided with the third. The suspect’s car overturned off the south side of the roadway. The PSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is continuing the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact PSP Reading at 610-378-4011.
State police have not released any further information at this time.
Original post: A police pursuit that began Tuesday night ended in a severe multi-vehicle crash on Route 422 in Exeter Township, resulting in seven people being injured and prompting a Level 1 Mass Casualty response.
The crash occurred around 9:22 p.m. at the intersection of Perkiomen Avenue (Route 422 East) and Lorane Road. The initial report included multiple injuries and possible entrapment, prompting a large emergency response from fire and EMS crews.
According to Lieutenant Sean Fullerton of the Exeter Township Police Department, the incident began when an officer attempted a traffic stop on Perkiomen Avenue (exact location not provided). The driver fled, and officers briefly pursued the vehicle before terminating the chase.
“At some point when the vehicle was traveling eastbound, the driver turned off his lights, according to witness accounts, and traveled through the intersection at Lorane Road and Perkiomen Avenue, causing a major accident,” Fullerton said.
The Pennsylvania State Police were called in to conduct an independent investigation and are now handling the scene.
Seven people were reported injured. Their conditions and the number of people transported to the hospital were not immediately available.
At the scene, the fleeing vehicle came to rest on its side on a grassy embankment near a bank parking lot. Two other vehicles involved in the crash were heavily damaged, with one vehicle’s engine ejected about 25 feet in the opposite direction of travel.
A witness who was present during the crash but whose vehicle was not struck said he jumped into action to help. He recalled pushing against the overturned vehicle to assist trapped occupants before the fire department arrived to stabilize and access the vehicle.
Another witness, who had been turning at the intersection at the time, but not involved, described the fleeing vehicle as going airborne. She noted the occupants appeared to be young and said one person was lying on the grass, possibly ejected from the car.
Two victims from one of the vehicles involved said they were unharmed but shaken, as their car was totaled in the crash.
As of late Tuesday night, Route 422 remained closed in both directions while the scene was processed by state police for the investigation.
