JERSEY SHORE - Just 10 days into the New Year the county has its first traffic fatality.
Robert Maines, 67, of Jersey Shore, was killed when his southbound Dodge Intrepid and a northbound pickup truck collided in the southbound lane of Route 44, about three miles north of Route 220, in Watson Township, just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, state police said.
Chief Deputy County Coroner Jerold Ross pronounced Maines dead of blunt force trauma injuries at the scene.
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Police said neither Maines nor the other driver, Tyler Stroble, 20, also of Jersey Shore, was wearing a seat belt.
Police still were trying to determine why Stroble, who was driving a Ford Ranger, crossed the center lane of the two-lane road, which was closed for five hours as troopers, including an accident reconstructionist, worked the scene.
Stroble was taken by ambulance to the Jersey Shore Hospital. No information was available Tuesday night about his medical condition.
Volunteer firefighters from the borough's two fire companies responded to the crash. Volunteer fire police detoured traffic onto other routes.
