4 Dead, 4 Injured In Butler Co. Crash
CHERRY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - A two-vehicle accident in Butler County has claimed the lives of four people.
According to police, the accident happened on Route 308 near the Moniteau High School in Cherry Township around 6:40 a.m. Tuesday.
The accident involved a van with seven people inside. Most of the van's occupants are Amish.
The van collided head-on with a pickup truck with only one occupant.
It is confirmed that the drivers of both vehicles have died.
The driver of the van has been identified as 76-year-old Louis Sweetapple.
"Very intense accident. One vehicle upside down on the guardrails. We had seven people in the one van, majority of them being Amish, with a driver. Supposedly that they were on their way to a funeral,"West Sunbury Fire Chief Reid Campbell said.
The funeral was being held in Punxsutawney and police believe the van crossed the center line and into the path of the pickup truck.
The road was closed for several hours, so crash investigators could conduct their investigation.
Four people were also injured in the crash. State police have released their names.
Irvine Detweiler, 72, of Emlenton, was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. Benedict Hostettler, 62, of Harrisville, was flown to Allegheny General Hospital.
Police say they both had major injuries.
Cynda Detwiller, 34, of Kennerdell, was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and 46-year-old David Coblentz, of Kennerdell, went to Presby as well.
Police describe their injuries as moderate.
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