A former Manheim Central High School chemistry teacher and award-winning conservationist was killed and his wife critically injured Saturday afternoon when their van overturned on I-180 in Northumberland County, according to published reports.
Samuel E. Wenger, 72, of 3 Fairview Drive, Akron, was pronounced dead at the scene by a representative of the Northumberland County Coroner's Office.
Wenger's wife, Ruth D., 75, was trapped in the wreckage for about 30 minutes before being extricated by volunteer firefighters, according to the reports. She was taken by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where she was listed in serious condition Sunday night.
State police said a 1997 van driven by Samuel Wenger was headed west at 12:20 p.m. when it left the south shoulder of the highway and the vehicle's undercarriage hit a rock embedded in the ground. The van then hit an embankment and overturned on the passenger side. Samuel Wenger was wearing a lap and shoulder belt, police said.
Wenger taught science and math at Manheim Central for many years. In 1976, he was one of 10 finalists for the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award and received several awards for science education.
He was a former president of Conestoga Valley Association, one of Lancaster County's first conservation groups. In 1982, he received the group's Earl F. Rebman Award.
In 2004, he was inducted into the Pequea Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Welcome to the new TalkBack on LancasterOnline. Please use the comment box below to share your opinion on this article. If you would prefer to use the previous TalkBack forums instead, please use this link.
