A toddler and his mother were among several people taken to the hospital after a violent three car accident.
It happened Monday afternoon in West Hazleton on a busy stretch through the borough, sending nine people to various hospitals.
Police said two cars were stopped at a traffic light at West Broad and Fifth streets when a red car came down West Broad Street, hitting several things before crashing into the second car at the light.
“He ran over a construction sign because there was construction going on for the corridor project, ran over a construction sign, sideswiped a vehicle, approximately a block and half away, and then struck the vehicle that had the baby in it,” said West Hazleton Police Chief Brian Buglio.
Police said a one-and-a-half-year-old boy was a passenger in the second car and the impact forced the car to crash into the back of the first car at the light.
Sigfredo Urena owns D’China Hair Salon on West Broad Street and saw the whole thing happen.
“There was one and two car waiting for the light and there was one driver in the red car and he was driving too quickly,” said Urena. “And he hit the car.”
Police said the toddler, his mother, who is pregnant, and the toddler`s grandmother were all in that car.
All three were flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital; the toddler with life-threatening injuries.
The driver of their car was taken to Hazleton General Hospital.
John Grobelny saw the aftermath of the accident and knew the injuries would be serious.
“Looked like a young boy that the paramedics had on the hood of the car,” said Gronbelny. “Very sad, he was bleeding. The rear end of their car looks like it was actually pushed up to the front seat.”
Police said there were two people and a four month old baby in the first car. They were all treated and released from Hazleton General for minor injuries.
Police said the driver of the red car is Thomas Horvath, 77, of Hazleton. He was driven by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Horvath’s 47-year old niece was also in Horvath’s car. She was treated and released from Hazleton General.
As for the cause of the crash, it remains under investigation.
“After the investigation is complete, there could be charges filed,” said Chief Buglio.
