Icy roads cause Schuylkill crashes

Icy roads on Sunday morning, Jan. 24, were blamed for several crashes along Schuylkill County roadways.

State police at Frackville said a crash was reported at 10:30 a.m. along SR4033, a half-mile south of Walters Lane, in Union Township. Troopers said Mary H. Balkiewicz, 65, of Ringtown, was driving a 2009 Toyota sedan northbound when the car crossed the southbound lane and struck an embankment along the berm. After impact the car continued north for about 60-feet before it re-entered the road and traveled about 50-feet across both lanes and then went onto the east berm and hit guide rails. The car then rolled over onto its roof and came to rest in the northbound lane.

Balkiewicz was injured and taken to St. Catherines Medical Center, Ashland. Damages to the car were moderate.

Another crash was reported at 10:35 a.m. along SR61, in Blythe Township. Debra A. Matta, 47, of Shenandoah, was driving a 1998 Buick Century southbound in the left lane when she lost control due to icy conditions. The car went onto the shoulder and struck guide rails, then traveled another 500-feet before it came to rest.

Matta was injured and taken to St. Catherines for treatment.

A third crash was reported at 10:35 a.m. along SR61, two-tenths of a mile south of Mall Road, in Blythe Township, just south of the Schuykill Mall. Mark Cuttic, 32, of Frackville, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado southbound when he lost control of the ice-covered road. The pickup truck went onto the berm and struck an embankment, then rolled over three times across both lanes of travel before coming to rest on the west shoulder.

Cuttic and his passenger, Brianna Steward, 27, also of Frackville, were taken to the Schuylkill Medical Center South, Pottsville, for treatment of injuries. The truck had to be towed from the scene.

A crash was reported at 10:37 a.m. along SR924, near SR339, in Union Township. Troopers said Alyssa Hysock, 19, of Shenandoah, was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier northbound when ice caused her to lose control. The car went onto the west berm and struck guide rails, then continued for about 260-feet before it came to rest on the shoulder.

Hysock was not injured. Damages were moderate to the car.

A crash was reported at 10:45 a.m. along SR924 in Union Township near where the above crash occurred. Mark Hysock, 38, of Shenandoah, was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt northbound and lost control on the icy surface. The car went onto the east berm and struck a large rock embankment. It continued north for another 100 feet, crossed the southbound lane, and came to rest on the west shoulder.

Hysock was not injured with damages moderate to his car.

A crash occurred along Interstate 81 in Mahanoy Township, about 12:06 p.m. Kendall Bradford, 22, of New Windsor, Md., was driving a 1997 Honda Civic northbound when it left the road on the west berm, traveled about 300 feet before starting to spin clockwise. The car then struck guide rail on the west side with the driver's side front, then spun counter-clockwise and came to rest on the west side.

Bradford complained of back pain but did not require medical attention. Damages were moderate to the car.