×

Teen, 21-year-old killed in crashes

TOWANDA — In a six-hour period Wednesday, two tragic traffic crashes occurred in the region, each claiming one life, according to state police.

The first crash occurred on Orwell Hill Road in Orwell Township, where a van and a pickup truck collided about 8:30 a.m., according to investigators.

Bradford County Coroner Tom Carman responded to the crash site and pronounced a 15-year-old girl dead at the scene, according to The Daily Review.

Police said the girl was a front-seat passenger in a van driven by a 17-year-old girl, who lost control of the vehicle as she was traveling west. The van crossed the center line and collided with a truck driven by Ray Sechrist, 59, of Rome, police said.

The 17-year-old, along with a 11-year-old passenger in her vehicle, and Sechrist, all were taken to the Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, police said. Hospital policy prohibits staff from releasing condition reports on crash victims.

Police did not release the names of any of the occupants in the van because they were juveniles. Efforts to reach Carman on Thursday night were unsuccessful.

The second fatal crash occurred on Milan Road in Smithfield Township and took the life of Thomas William Cook, 21, of Sayre, who lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree about 2:30 p.m., police said, adding that he was pronounced dead at the scene.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today