Passenger injured in crash

The passenger in a vehicle that crashed along Interstate 81 in Frailey Township, Schuylkill County, was seriously injured. It was one of two crashes along the interstate in Schuylkill on Aug. 12.

State police at Frackville said the crash occurred at 12:02 p.m. as Lydia Birhanu, 27, of Lancaster, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Uplander southbound and changing from the left to right lane when she lost control of the vehicle. The Uplander crossed the right lane, went onto the berm and hit the front left area with the ground. This caused the Uplander to flip once end over end before coming to rest on its roof facing north.

Passenger Courtney B. Schouten, 28, of Ephrata, was taken to the Hershey Medical Center with serious injuries, troopers said. Birhanu sustained a minor injury.

The other crash occurred at 9:29 a.m. in Cass Township. Troopers said James A. Schally, 37, of Gordon, driving a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, just entered the interstate to go northbound from the Highland exit traveling a slow speed while Albert B. Cornish, 59, of Watkins Glen, New York, was northbound operating a 2012 Freightliner tractor with trailer.

Troopers said Cornish did not realize Schally's speed, with the front of the tractor hitting the rear of the Malibu. Schally sustained a minor injury but did not require immediate medical attention. Cornish was not injured.

Troopers cited Cornish for following too closely.