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Crash Leaves One Dead in Nesquehoning

NESQUEHONING — A crash in Carbon County split a car in half and left one person dead. Responders called it one of the worst crashes they’ve seen. Au...

NESQUEHONING -- A crash in Carbon County split a car in half and left one person dead. Responders called it one of the worst crashes they've seen.

Authorities said Jeff Rider Jr. was speeding along Route 93 in Nesquehoning when he lost control of the car and crashed it in the woods. The coroner said Rider died at a hospital near Allentown from severe head injuries.

Courtney Mesh lived down the street from Rider. She said just the other day, he helped dig out her mom's car from a snow bank.

"When I heard about what happened this morning, it was pretty upsetting because like I said, he was a very nice person, and he helped me out when I needed it and I just felt really bad," said Mesh.

Mesh said Rider had only lived in Nesquehoning for a few months. Other neighbors told us he worked for a tree service.

The coroner said when Rider lost control of the car and drove off the road, he hit several trees.

Pieces of the car are still at the crash site. Marouchoc's Auto Repair in Nesquehoning towed the rest, two halves and the engine, which the tow truck driver said was flung more than 100 feet from the car.

"I've been towing cars for at least 30 years, and I would have to say that's one of the worst ones I've ever seen. It's split up in three different pieces so it was pretty bad. It took us about two-and-a-half hours to clean up the accident scene. So it was a mess," said Gerry Marouchoc, of Marouchoc's Auto Repair.

The tow truck driver said nothing is salvageable from the car.

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