A woman was seriously injured when a heavy-duty pickup truck veered out of control during heavy rainfall Monday afternoon on Route 61 in Ontelaunee Township and collided with her SUV traveling in the opposite direction, police said.
Route 61 was closed for several hours in both directions at Bellemans Church Road north of Leesport following the 2:15 p.m. crash while Northern Berks Regional police and a state police crash-reconstruction unit investigated.
Northern Berks Police Chief James Heiser said Tuesday that the investigation continues.
He provided this preliminary account:
The pickup truck was southbound on Route 61 approaching Bellemans Church when the driver lost control.
The truck went over the raised concrete median into the northbound lanes and collided with the SUV. The woman was trapped in the wreckage.
Firefighters used hydraulic tools to remove her. She was taken by ambulance to Reading Hospital.
Police withheld her name and the name of the driver of the truck, who was uninjured.
Information on the woman’s medical condition could not be obtained from the hospital.
Berks County emergency officials announced the reopening of Route 61 about 6 p.m.
Heiser said his department requested assistance from the state police crash reconstruction unit due to the severity of the woman’s injuries.
Source: Berkshire mont