Two people were seriously injured Monday afternoon in a high-speed vehicle crash in Bart Township, police said.

The two-car wreck occurred about 3:45 p.m. when a green Ford Mustang crossed into opposing traffic on Route 896 (Georgetown Road) and struck a van, Pennsylvania State Trooper Samuel Laureto said.

The Mustang's driver, Charles M. Harris IV, 23, of Oxford, and the van's driver, Susan L. Jarosz, 38, of Ephrata, were in serious condition at local hospitals late Monday, Laureto said.

Witnesses told police Harris was driving the Mustang at excessive speeds and passing vehicles prior to the crash.

Harris was headed south when he lost control of the Mustang in the 1300 block of Georgetown Road and struck the midsection of the van's driver's side, Laureto said.

Harris was fighting for his life Monday night after sustaining "very extensive" injuries in the crash, Laureto said.

The crash closed part of Route 896 for hours.

Investigators were still at the scene late Monday night trying to determine how fast the Mustang was traveling at the time of the crash.

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com