PHOTO BY SKINNY WERT A fatal vehicle accident on Renovo Road

PHOTO BY SKINNY WERT
A fatal vehicle accident on Renovo Road

From staff reports

LOCK HAVEN — A man was killed and five others were injured in a head-on collision of two cars on the Renovo Road north of the city on Sunday.

State police have confirmed that Robert Keefer, 31, of Lock Haven, one of the drivers, was killed in the crash.

The collision occurred on the 1200 block of Renovo Road – also known as Route 120 – just above the 40 et 8 Club shortly after noon on Sunday, Investigator Jeffrey Tillinghast said.

Keefer was traveling with Amber L. Baker, 35, of Greencastle, Pa., and another passenger, who police did not identify.

Baker was seriously injured and transported to Geisinger Medical Center, where she was said to be in critical condition as of press time Sunday night, according to a Geisinger spokesperson.

The condition of Keefer’s second passenger was unknown as of press time Sunday night.

Police said Keefer was heading west, toward Renovo, when he approached a left curve on the road and lost control of his 2003-model Ford Focus for an unknown reason.

His car entered the eastbound lane of traffic, striking a 2016-model Toyota Camry operated by Richard A. Kodish, 66, of Oxford, Pa.

Kodish and one of his passengers, Nancy H. Kodish, 65, also of Oxford, Pa., were both seriously injured, according to the report filed by Investigator Jeffrey Tillinghast.

A second passenger, Raymond A. Kodish, 26, of Indiana, Pa., also has reported injuries, state police said.

All three were transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and reported to be in critical condition as of press time Sunday night, according to a Geisinger spokesperson.

With six people involved, a large number of emergency responders raced to the scene.

The LifeFlight helicopter was summoned and landed at Peddie Park south of the crash to transport crash victims.

Clinton County Coroner Zach Hanna was summoned to the scene and confirmed Keefer’s death.

The crash caused the closing of Route 120 in both lanes, forcing police to detour traffic off the Renovo Road and over Hyner Mountain to Route 44-664 – for those coming east or south. Heading west or north, traffic was diverted at Peddie Park.

The road was not reopened until about 2 p.m.

Aside from state police, among the many emergency responders on the scene were from each of the three companies from Lock Haven, along with Lock Haven EMS, and Flemington Goodwill Hose Co.