Third person dies after I-80 crash

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LOGANTON - The grandson of a New York gospel singer succumbed to injuries Saturday evening, becoming the third person killed in the crash late Friday night on Interstate 80 in Clinton County.

D.J. Wright, 14, died Saturday evening at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, according to a nursing supervisor there.

He is the grandson of the Rev. Timothy Wright, a nationally known gospel singer who was the driver of a vehicle that was struck headon by a car traveling in the wrong lane, according to state police at Lamar.

The Rev. Wright, 61, of Roosevelt, N.Y. remains in critical condition at Geisinger. His wife, Betty Wright, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the Carroll exit of I-80.

Also killed was John Pick, 44, of Lewisburg, who was driving his car the wrong-way on eastbound Interstate 80 and struck the Wrights' vehicle head-on.

Timothy Wright has released more than a dozen gospel recordings, including ''Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,'' which came out last year.

He is the founder and pastor at Grace Tabernacle Christian Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

New York music agent Will Bogle called the news ''completely deflating.''

''He's been a mentor to me in ways he probably doesn't even know,'' said Bogle, who represents gospel performer Ricky Dillard. ''He's a giving man; I've not seen a person more tangible to his church, to his community, to his friends. Everyone I know is deeply touched and saddened.''

The Wrights were returning from a Church of God in Christ conference in Detroit, said Leroy Johnson, a trustee at Grace Tabernacle.

The couple has five sons, and the family asked that no other information be released, Johnson said Saturday.

A passenger in a third vehicle that struck the Wrights from behind remained in fair condition Sunday, the nursing supervisor said.

According to police, Pick was driving his 1992 Chevrolet Corsica west in the eastbound lanes and crashed head-on into Wright's 2002 Lincoln Blackwood near the 194 mile post.

Kyle Creasap, 25, of Marion, Ohio was driving his 2005 Pontiac Grand AM east in the eastbound lanes when his car struck Wright's sedan, which was in the roadway after the first collision, police said.

Creasap and a passenger in Pick's auto, Heather Berringer, 23, of Marion, Ohio, were not seriously injured in the collision, according to reports.

All three vehicles were severely damaged.

State police were assisted at the scene by Sugar Valley emergency medical service and fire company, Dunnstown and Flemington emergency crews, White Deer Township fire and EMS services, LifeFlight emergency helicopter service out of Danville and others.

Members of Wright's congregation gathered Sunday to mourn the losses and pray for their pastor's recovery.

Congregants at the Grace Tabernacle Christian Center refused to be bowed by sorrow following the crash. Women in Sunday white and men in dark suits pounded their feet and sang joyful gospel tunes, forgoing solemnity to praise God and share memories of the Wright family.

''We honor the Lord for his goodness and his kindness. We say, in spite of everything: God is still good,'' the Rev. Frank Williams told the crowd.

Wright, the church's 61-year-old founder, remained in critical condition, but speakers at the services reassured congregants that he was conscious and led them in fervent prayers for his health.

''He shall live,'' Williams said. ''He has impacted too many people. He has paid some of our rents when he couldn't even pay his own.''

Williams recalled Betty Wright's sharp sense of humor and strength, calling the 58-year-old ''the most powerful, phenomenal woman.''

''Their blood and sweat are in the walls,'' he said of the Wrights and the Pentecostal church, located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.

After congregants held hands in prayer, leaders called all former members of the choir forward to join the current group of singers.

Amid the pews, tearful churchgoers danced and clapped along with the songs.

One woman, bent and sobbing, had to be led from the room.

Along with the N.Y. Fellowship Mass Choir, Timothy Wright was nominated for a Grammy award for best traditional soul gospel album for 1994's ''Come Thou Almighty King.''

He has released more than a dozen gospel recordings, including ''Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,'' which came out last year.

It was a sudden tragedy for members of the Brooklyn church, where on Sunday morning white-clad ushers handed out programs, apparently printed before the accident, that still listed Timothy Wright as the scheduled speaker.

The pamphlet also said, ''Program subject to change by order of the Holy Spirit.''

At Sunday's service, the Rev. Willy Robinson sought to comfort congregants.

''I'm not going to tell you don't cry ... I've been crying,'' he said. ''You're going to feel bad for a while, but God's going to bring you through.

''We're going to see her and them again.''