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Muncy Woman in Critical Condition Following Accident

By Staff | Jan 24, 2009

A local woman was seriously injured Friday afternoon in a two-vehicle Route 15 crash, between South Williamsport and Montgomery.

The driver of a Honda CRV, Gretchen Hayes, 34, of Muncy, suffered major injuries in the 1 p.m. Clinton Township crash, about one mile north of Route 54, state police said.

She was flown by helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, according to police. A hospital nursing supervisor said Friday night that Hayes was in critical condition.

Hayes was reportedly descending a hill southbound when she veered, for unknown reasons, into the path of a northbound tractor-trailer driven by Donald R. Koch, 60, of Watsontown.

Koch traveled as far as possible onto the right shoulder, in an attempt to avoid being struck by Hayes, according to state police Tpr. Brandon Schrawder.

Despite Koch’s effort, Schrawder said Hayes continued traveling toward Koch, striking the trailer.

Koch, who was wearing a seat belt, was not injured, Schrawder said. Hayes was not wearing a seat belt.

Plans were made by police at the scene to tow both vehicles. The Honda was completely destroyed, while police said damage to Koch’s vehicle was limited to the trailer.

The crash caused Route 15 to be blocked near the accident scene, temporarily detouring traffic to other roads, according to Rick Mason, state Department of Transportation District 3-0 public information officer.

Mason reported nearly three hours after the wreck that Route 15 was completely re-opened.