Michael Kurelja Obituary, Death: Coroner identifies driver killed in Route 220 crash.
Michael Kurelja Obituary, Death – Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal crash on Route 220 near Jersey Shore that occurred Monday evening.
According to Lycoming County Coroner Charles Kiessling Jr., 38-year-old Michael Kurelja of Illinois was driving north on Route 220 when his Subaru Forester was struck nearly head-on. The impact caused severe entrapment, and despite emergency responders’ efforts to resuscitate him, Kurelja was pronounced dead at 7:48 p.m.
The crash happened just west of the Thomas Street exit when a Mercedes Benz ML 350, traveling in the wrong direction, collided with Kurelja’s Subaru. The Mercedes then continued south in the northbound lane, hitting a truck that was towing a trailer before rolling onto its roof and catching fire.
Authorities said the driver of the Mercedes, an unidentified woman, managed to escape from the vehicle and fled on foot. While running across the southbound lanes of Route 220, she was reportedly struck by other vehicles. Emergency responders transported her to the Trauma Center at UPMC for treatment of her injuries.
The crash remains under investigation, and an autopsy on Kurelja is scheduled for Wednesday morning in Allentown.
