Two, ages 7, 9, killed in North’d horse-and-buggy crash
RED CROSS – Two children are dead and five others were taken to the hospital after state troopers say a Pottsville man fell asleep at the wheel and hit a horse-and-buggy in lower Northumberland County.
State Police at Stonington say the crash happened around 8pm on State Route 225 near Howard Taylor Road in Jackson Township.
A horse-and-buggy, operated by 34-year-old Ervan Zook, of Dornsife, was headed south on Route 225 as John Koperna, Jr., 39, of Pottsville, was driving a 2014 Mini Cooper southbound as well.
Troopers said Koperna told them he believes he fell asleep prior to the crash.
The Mini Cooper rear-ended the buggy, ejecting all six occupants.
One occupant of the buggy, a 7-year-old girl, was pronounced dead at the scene and another, a 9-year-old boy, was pronounced dead at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
The horse also died at the scene, troopers said.
All others involved in the crash were taken to Geisinger Medical Center with various degrees of injuries. Ervan Zook; Leah Zook, 29, of Dornsife; and a 3-year-old boy all had serious injuries, troopers said, while an unknown age boy and Koperna had minor injuries.
Firefighters from Herndon and Trevorton assisted along with Geisinger LifeFlight EMS and medical personnel from Area Services and Americus in Sunbury.
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