Distraction, speed cited in two recent crashes
Jul. 19—Fiddling with the GPS and speeding on a wet interstate contributed to two recent crashes investigated by state troopers from the Dunmore barracks, authorities said Wednesday.
Two people were evaluated at Geisinger Community Medical Center for injuries reported from those crashes — one on Monday at Mount Cobb Road and Wimmers Road in Jefferson Twp. and the other Friday on Interstate 81 North at Exit 180 in Moosic.
Patrick Healey, a 35-year-old man from Scranton, received minor injuries when his car was rear-ended by another driver in the Jefferson Twp. Gregory Matyjevich, 23, of Scranton, also suffered an injury when he skidded off the slick interstate into a median.
A request is pending with a hospital spokesperson for their conditions.
The Jefferson Twp. crash happened at about 2:17 p.m. Monday when 19-year-old Joshua Cohen, of Scranton, became distracted by the GPS on his cell phone, state police said.
Cohen rear-ended Healey, who reported injury to his left eye, neck and back.
EMS from the Jefferson Twp. Volunteer Ambulance Association took Healey to GCMC.
Neither Cohen nor his passenger, Jennifer Kuniegel, 18, of Scranton, were injured. Trooper Keith Herbert cited Cohen for careless driving.
Pennsylvania Ambulance transported Matyjevich to the hospital for an evaluation around 1:20 a.m. Friday. The 23-year-old drove too fast for the conditions and lost control of his Subaru, state police said.
He struck the sign for Exit 180 and knocked it over. A citation for speeding is pending.
Trooper Kevin Gaffney investigated.
Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9100, x5187; @jkohutTT on Twitter.
