Crashes probed on I81 in Schuylkill

State police at Frackville reported investigating two vehicle crashes along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County.

Troopers said a crash occurred about 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 31, as William Bastarache, 55, of Long Reach, New Brunswick, Canada, was southbound operating a 2006 Pontiac Pursuit in a construction zone which had travel down to a single left lane. The passenger side front tire hit a drop off in a milled section. Bastarache attempted to get the vehicle back into the left lane and entered the median and struck a dirt embankment. This caused the vehicle to roll over onto its roof. The vehicle came to rest in the median facing south on its roof.

Bastarache and passengers Jessika Bastarache, 15, and Jateema Richards, 16, both of Long Reach, were taken to the Hazleton General Hospital by McAdoo ambulance for treatment of what troopers said were minor injuries. The Pursuit had to be towed from the scene.

Troopers cited Bastarache for driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Assisting troopers at the scene were volunteers from the McAdoo Fire Company.

The second crash occurred about 1:28 p.m. also on Saturday in Delano Township. Troopers said Alfred M. Nkere, 47, of Baltimore, Md., and John P. Kellman, 24, of Pottsville, were both northbound when Kellman slowed down in an attempt to pull off the road when his 2008 Hummer H3 was struck in the rear by Nkere's 2002 GMC Yukon.

Nkere and seven passengers and Kellman were all not injured.

Troopers cited Nkere for driving a vehicle at an (un) safe speed.