70-Year-Old Dies in Union County Crash Caused by Teen Driver

Richard W. Marion, 70, of Watsontown was killed Saturday afternoon when a 16-year-old driver from Winfield ran a red light on the Westbranch Highway and slammed into the rear of his Honda CR-V at the intersection of Route 15 and Loan Road in Kelly Township.

Trooper Joshua Myers of the Pennsylvania State Police Milton barracks said the teen was driving a 2010 Chevrolet Colorado northbound on Route 15 at approximately 3:53 p.m. when he failed to slow for traffic already stopping at the red light. The force of the collision pushed Marion's Honda across the southbound lanes and into the western berm. The teen's truck continued through the intersection before stopping on the eastern berm.

Marion was transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, roughly 18 miles from the crash scene, where the Montour County coroner pronounced him dead. His passenger, Valerie Marion, 69, also of Watsontown, sustained suspected minor injuries and was taken to WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital. The teen driver sustained minor injuries and declined hospital transport.

Both Richard and Valerie Marion were wearing seatbelts. The 16-year-old was not. Trooper Myers also indicated that speed may have been a contributing factor in the crash. Route 15 southbound closed near Loan Road while investigators worked the scene; PennDOT issued a detour using Hospital Drive (Route 1005), JPM Road (Route 1007), and William Penn Drive (Route 1018).

Charges against the teen are pending the results of the ongoing investigation. His identity has not been released, consistent with standard practice for juvenile suspects under Pennsylvania law.

The seatbelt disparity is consistent with a documented national pattern: 22% of teen drivers involved in crashes were not wearing seatbelts, yet that group accounts for 57% of teen crash fatalities. Nationally, the fatal crash rate for drivers ages 16 to 19 runs nearly three times that of drivers 20 and older per mile driven. Pennsylvania's Graduated Driver Licensing program requires 16-year-olds to complete 65 hours of supervised driving before advancing, with restrictions on nighttime travel and passenger limits tied to available seatbelts. Whether those requirements were being met at the time of the April 4 crash is part of what investigators are examining.