COVINGTON - A tanker truck hauling water used in natural gas drilling reportedly rear-ended a car Saturday in Putnam Township, killing a Lock Haven woman.
State police in Mansfield identified the victim as Mildred L. Barnard, 74, of Lock Haven.
She was extracted from the wreckage of a 2006 Honda Civic with hydraulic cutting tools at the intersection of Routes 2005 and 2022, Mansfield Hose Co. Fire Chief Jim Welch said. Welch said the car was hit from behind about 1:30 p.m. by the tanker truck.
Welch said Barnard was riding in the car's front passenger seat. Police said she died after arriving at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital emergency room in Wellsboro.
The driver of the car, Diane M. McKinley, 51, of Renovo, reportedly was taken to the Wellsboro hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Welch said a 5-year-old girl was riding in the back seat of the car and suffered minor injuries.
The impact, Welch said, "pushed the back of her (the girl's) seat about 10 inches forward.
"This crash occurred as (the car) was stopped in the northbound lane of Route 2005 at the intersection of Route 2022, waiting for opposing traffic to clear before making a left turn onto Route 2022, when it was struck in the rear by the front of (the truck), which was also traveling north on Route 2005," state police Trooper Greg Moore said.
Because of the extensive damage to the car's rear, and since a helicopter already was in the area, Welch said it was used to transport the girl to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville as a precaution.
Police said the truck driver, Barry K. Smith, 39, of Columbia Crossroads, was not injured.
All four people involved in the wreck reportedly were wearing seat belts.
No liquid leaked from the tanker, and Welch said the only fluid clean up involved engine compartment oil. It was the first crash involving a natural gas-related vehicle in the greater Mansfield area.
"In a little over a year of the (gas business) activity, this is the first in our fire district," Welch said.
The 2000 International tanker truck is owned by Van-White Inc. of Troy.
A state Department of Transportation traveler's advisory reported that the wreck temporarily closed traffic on Old Route 15 at the intersection with the blinking light in Covington.
