One Dead, Two Critically Injured in Hartley Township Crash

A single-vehicle crash at 2:15 a.m. on Jan. 6 on Route 235 near Palmen Road in Hartley Township killed 21-year-old Allison R. Vonneida of Hartleton and seriously injured two other occupants, state police at Milton reported. Union County Coroner Wanda Walters pronounced Vonneida dead at the scene.

State police said a 1999 Mercury Cougar driven by 21-year-old Christopher A. Wirth of Hartleton was traveling south on Route 235 at a high rate of speed when the driver failed to negotiate a left curve. The vehicle slid through the north lane, left the roadway and struck several trees. Wirth and Vonneida were ejected from the vehicle; a second passenger, 21-year-old Dediree E. Cronin of Hartleton, remained inside.

Wirth and Cronin were flown by Life Flight helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. A nursing supervisor at the hospital reported both were in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon. The crash remains under investigation by state police at Milton, who are examining contributing factors including speed and vehicle control.

Local emergency services responded to the scene, with Mifflinburg Fire and Ambulance assisting state police. The use of air transport and the involvement of county coroner resources reflect the severity of the crash and the resource demands such incidents place on rural emergency systems.

For Union County residents, the collision highlights risks associated with high-speed travel on rural routes, particularly at night and on curved sections of road. Investigators will determine whether restraint use, road conditions, vehicle condition or other factors contributed to the outcome. The loss and the critical injuries affect a small community where residents often know one another, underscoring the human toll of severe traffic collisions.

Authorities have not released additional details pending the ongoing investigation. Local residents can expect updates from state police and county officials as investigators complete their reconstruction and determinations about causation.