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Police Blame Crash on Extreme Speed; Rule Out Racing

HANOVER TOWNSHIP – Investigators said video footage from a surveillance camera on a business along the Sans Souci Parkway shows that there was no other vehicle ...

HANOVER TOWNSHIP – Investigators said video footage from a surveillance camera on a business along the Sans Souci Parkway shows that there was no other vehicle racing a Grand Am that crashed and seriously injured the driver Monday morning.

Officers with the Hanover Township Police Department said Lukas Szczucki, 23, of Nanticoke was ejected from the sedan during the violent crash and is listed in critical condition at Geisinger Wyoming Valley. 

Several witnesses said that they had seen two vehicles street racing on the Sans Souci Parkway before the crash, but authorities said the surveillance video has helped them determine that there was not another vehicle involved and that the wreck was the result of “extreme” speed.

According to crash statistics from PennDOT District 4 officials, 15 crashes were reported on the Sans Souci Parkway in 2011, compared to seven wrecks in 2009.

Viola Kobusky told Newswatch 16 that she has noticed more speeding and distracted drivers on the busy parkway than what she can remember from a decade ago.

"It's kind of scary. Every time you turn around, there's somebody squeaking their brakes or they go through a red light, it's terrible,” said Kobusky. “They need a divider down the middle."

Connie Pietrzykoski said she thinks more police patrols would help with speeding on the Sans Souci Parkway and that she’s hopeful that township and transportation officials would consider a permanent traffic light at the interchange with Route 29.

"You have some people who are crazy on this highway,” said Pietrzykoski. “It's difficult. A traffic light is always good.”

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