Schuylkill crashes

State police at Frackville reported investigating several crashes on Schuylkill County roadways over the past weekend.

A one-vehicle crash occurred about 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 25, along Catawissa Road, just south of Heisler's Dairy Bar, in Walker Township. Troopers said Sandra L. Artz, 41, of Spring Glen, Schuylkill County, was driving a 1998 Suzuki LS650 motorcycle northbound during a severe rainstorm. While negotiating a right curve she lost control of the bike which then struck a metal grate bridge. Troopers said she caught the bike as it was falling and injured her right leg. She was taken to a Pottsville hospital by New Ringgold ambulance, troopers said. There was no damage to the bike.

A crash occurred about 8:50 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, along Valley St. (SR209), in New Philadelphia. Troopers said Robert L. Bressler, 50, of New Philadelphia, was driving a 1999 Ford Taurus eastbound when he lost control due to the possibility of a failure of the steering system. The car struck a utility pole along the right berm. Bressler was not injured. Troopers said further investigation revealed that Bressler's driving privileges are suspended. He will be cited for that offense, troopers added.

A crash occurred about 1:45 p.m. on Sunday along SR924 in West Mahanoy Township. Troopers said Travis V. McGee, 19, of Shenandoah, was operating a 1994 Chevrolet S10 pickup truck eastbound when he lost control. The truck struck a utility pole along the berm head-on. McGee sustained minor injuries in the crash but did not require medical attention. The truck had to be towed from the scene.

McGee was cited for driving a vehicle at an (un) safe speed.

Troopers investigated two crashes along Interstate 81 on Saturday.

The first occurred about 8:58 a.m. in Foster Township. Darein Williams, 38, of Dunmore, Lackawanna County, was driving a 2005 Suzuki GSX R600 motorcycle southbound when the front wheel locked up. The bike left the roadway and entered the median where it overturned and came to rest. Williams, who was wearing a helmet, was not injured.

The second crash occurred about 9:30 a.m. in Mahanoy Township and was a hit and run. Troopers said Kimberly A. Messina, 19, of Pittston, was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt southbound when her vehicle was struck in the rear by another vehicle. This caused Messina to lose control of her car which went off the road, rolled over several times and then struck a group of trees along the berm. Messina and her passenger, Cody Pashinski, 21, also of Pittston, both sustained minor injuries.

The second driver did not stop and continued southbound. The hit-and- run vehicle was described as being a white pickup truck with New York registration plates. On the box of the truck was a small refrigerator with the word "monster" on it. There was also wood hanging out of the rear of the truck.

Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call troopers at (570) 874-5300.