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State police at Frackville reported investigating three crashes along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County all occurring on Monday, May 23.

A crash occurred about 4:36 p.m. in Delano Township. Troopers said Gregory Prest, 50. of Caribou, ME., was northbound in the left lane and slowing for traffic merging ahead of him. Orlando Currie Jr., 38, of Nesquehoning, attempted to merge in front of Prest when his 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer was struck by Prest's 2009 Peterbilt tractor with trailer.

Both drivers were not injured, however, two passengers with Carrier, who were not identified by troopers, were injured and taken to St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, Coaldale, by Ryan Township ambulance. Troopers added that Currie will be cited for the crash.

The second crash occurred about 3:58 p.m. also in Delano Township. Troopers said Marcus T. Avellino, 22, of Kulpmont, was northbound and slowing for traffic ahead. Troopers said Avellino's 1996 Western Star dump truck was struck in the rear by a Ford Econo F250 truck driven by Manuel O. Perez, 55, of Shenandoah.

Perez was injured and taken to the Hazleton General Hospital for treatment. Avellino was not injured. Damages were termed major to the Ford and moderate to the Western Star.

Troopers said Perez was cited for the crash.

The third crash occurred about 6:30 p.m. in Foster Township. Troopers said Mark M. Copeland, 42, of Hershey, was driving a 2004 Nissan Maxima northbound in the left lane when he lost control during a heavy rainstorm. The car crossed both lanes of travel and hit the guiderail on the east berm. It then spun clockwise and came to rest along the berm.

Copeland was not injured. He was cited for driving a vehicle at a (un) safe speed.

Troopers also reported investigating a crash on Monday along SR4007 (High Ridge Park Road), in Cass Township. Troopers said Lesley D. Gaddis, 42, of Waynesville, N.C., was driving a 2006 Peterbilt Conventional truck with trailer when he attempted to cross over the road from Keystone Blvd., when the left side of the trailer struck a 1999 Chevrolet Venture driven by Marie A. Ferrari, 44, of Girardville, who was eastbound on 4007.

Troopers said Gaddis failed to observe a steady red light signal due to heavy fog in the area. No one was injured. Troopers cited Gaddis for careless driving.

Another crash was reported Monday, about 4:35 a.m., at 399 N. Main St. (SR924), in West Mahanoy Township. Troopers said Mark Getz, 31, of Shenandoah Heights, was driving a 2009 Toyota mini van southbound when the vehicle went off the road and sturck a utility pole. Getz was not injured but the van had to be towed from the scene.

Troopers cited Getz for driving on roadways laned for traffic.