A collision with a deer started a
chain of events which led to an incredible tanker explosion in Manchester
Township.
The crash happened Thursday just
before 3 a.m.
According to
police, a Honda Civic
driven by 18-year-old Marissa Patterson, of Lacey Township, hit a deer traveling
east on Route 37. She was heading home from her boyfriend's house when she slammed into the deer on the dark section of highway.
Patterson told police after the
deer strike, she went over to the side of the road and called them for
assistance, a safe distance away from the highway – a decision that most likely
saved her life. Her car was disabled, and unable to move. The impact
knocked out the electronics and lights.
"Everybody kept thanking me
that I got out of a car and everything I wasn't really worried about myself I
was just worried about the truck driver because he was carrying a lot of gas,”
says Patterson. “It could have ended really badly. I'm glad we both made it out
safe with minor injuries."
Before police could arrive, a
tanker truck smashed into her disabled car. The cab cleared the concrete
barrier, the tanker flipped and exploded. The driver of the truck was not hurt
but did go to the hospital just out of caution.
“She did 100% the right thing there
by getting out of her vehicle, getting off to the side of the road in a safe
location and calling police,” says Patrolman Jesse Hoydis.
Officer Hoydis says in 2020,
Manchester had 100 vehicle and deer collisions – 40% of them happened in
October and November.
Police also say the driver of the
truck did nothing wrong and there was nothing else he could do as he hit the
disabled, darkened car.