HT News

April 5, 2009

One killed, four hurt in Hazle Township crash

HAZLE TWP. - A Hazleton man was killed and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Airport Road late Saturday night.

David M. Coticchio, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene by Luzerne County Deputy Coroner David Stock.

State police in Hazleton said the crash occurred at about 10:30 p.m. as Miranda Lee Yurek, 18, of Hazleton was driving east and Coticchio was driving west on Airport Road near the intersection with Hess Road.

Police said Yurek's 2001 Honda Civic left the lane of travel and then re-entered the roadway. Because Yurek overcompensated her entrry back onto the highway, she lost control, police said.

The Honda sruck Coticchio's 2007 Mazda5 in the driver-side wheel area, causing the minivan to spin clockwise, travel towards the north shoulder and turn over onto the roof. The Honda spun counterclockwise and came to rest on the road near the point of impact, police said.

Injured, in addition to Yurek, were Coticchio's passengers - Diane Coticchio, 41; and Julia Coticchio, 12, both of Hazleton; and Kristina Spaulding, 20, of Massapequa, N.Y. Both drivers and all passengers were wearing seat belts, police said.

American Patient Transport Systems and Valley Regional EMS transported the crash victims to Lehigh Valley Hospital and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Hazle Township Volunteer Fire Co. assisted. Zenier's Towing removed both vehicles.

Cpl. Douglas Shook of the CARS Unit of state police in Swiftwater reconstructed the scene. An investigation continues.

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