5 Killed When Motorcycles Collide With SUV Near Maryland State Line
WAYNESBORO, Pa. (AP) -- A local coroner on Sunday identified five Pennsylvania residents as the victims of a horrific crash involving two motorcycles and an SUV near the Maryland state line.
All four people traveling on the motorcycles died, as did Marjorie Smith, 68, of Johnstown, who was a passenger in the SUV, according to Franklin County coroner Jeffrey Conner.
The motorcyclists were Douglas Hoffer Jr., 32, of Quarryville; Colleen Nesbitt, 27, of Gap; and David Russell, 67, and Michelle Russell, 53, both of Mount Joy.
The crash happened Saturday afternoon in the south-central Pennsylvania community of Washington Township, not far from Waynesboro.
According to Conner, the northbound SUV crossed the center line on Fort Ritchie Access Road for unknown reasons and hit the motorcycle driven by Hoffer. The SUV then spun around and was broadsided by the Russells' bike, he said in a statement.
Conner would not comment on the relationships among the victims. Washington Township police released no further information about the accident on Sunday.
Township Supervisor Elaine Gladhill said she went to the scene because of the high number of fatalities to support emergency workers. Grief counselors were on hand, she said.
Gladhill described the scene as "horrific" in an interview with the AP. She said it might have been the single accident with that many fatalities in the township.
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