Emergency crews are on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on Route 222 near the Lausch Road overpass.
Emergency crews are on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on Route 222 near the Lausch Road overpass.
A four-vehicle crash closed the northbound lanes of Route 222 on Thursday and sent five people to local hospitals.
According to Cpl. Darrick Keppley of the East Cocalico police, a Chevrolet sport utility vehicle driven by Lindsay Bricker, 23, of West Reading, was traveling south on Route 222 when Bricker attempted to switch from the passing lane into the right lane.
Pulling into the right lane, Bricker's SUV clipped a vehicle driven by Anthony Olinski, 30, of Philadelphia.
Bricker lost control of her vehicle, Keppley said, and entered the median strip.
"Her vehicle rolled an undetermined amount of times," Keppley said.
Entering the northbound lanes, Bricker's SUV struck a Hyundai driven by Gregory Rymer, 33, of Red Lion, and a Chevrolet sedan driven by Jessica Graybill, 24, of East Petersburg.
Rymer was passing Graybill's vehicle at the time, and the two cars were nearly side by side.
"Bricker hit them head-on, pretty much simultaneously," Keppley said.
Graybill's and Rymer's vehicles remained on the roadway, while Bricker's SUV came to rest on the highway's grassy shoulder.
Rymer, Bricker and Graybill all suffered injuries, Keppley said, and were taken by ambulance to Lancaster and Reading hospitals.
Graybill was treated at Lancaster General and released. Bricker was listed in good condition at Reading Hospital, a spokesperson said.
Rymer's condition was unknown.
Two passengers in Graybill's vehicle, Zack Mell, 19, of Stevens, and Rachel Hargenrater, 18, of Denver, also were injured. Hargenrater was taken to Reading Hospital. Mell was taken to Lancaster General, where he was treated and released.
Olinski was uninjured. His vehicle remained in the southbound lane and sustained only minor damage. The other three vehicles, Keppley said, sustained major damage.
Following the 1:15 p.m. crash, the northbound lanes of Route 222 were closed to traffic from the Route 322 interchange to Spur Road at the Pennsylvania Turnpike, while crews cleaned the scene. It was reopened around 2:30 p.m.
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