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Crash Kills Old Forge Boy, 12, Sends Father to Hospital

OLD FORGE — A boy who started seventh grade just days ago is dead, and his father was seriously injured in a crash Saturday night on South Keyser Avenue i...
lacka crash lenny

OLD FORGE -- A boy who started seventh grade just days ago is dead, and his father was seriously injured in a crash Saturday night on South Keyser Avenue in Old Forge.

Police said Leonard Zupon Jr. died early Sunday morning after the Mustang driven by his father, Leonard Zupon Sr., collided with another vehicle.

Police said the father and son were not wearing seat belts.

Investigators said David Turano of Carbondale was making a left turn into the Diamond Club when the crash happened. Police said Turano ran from the scene and was captured a few blocks away in Taylor.

Turano was taken to the hospital and had blood taken as part of the investigation to determine if he was intoxicated.

The boy, 12, known as Lenny, had started seventh grade just a few days earlier at All Saints Academy in Scranton where his mother, Mary Jane Zupon, worked as a secretary. She also spent more than a decade working at Newswatch 16, where she made many friends.

A classmate remembered Lenny as a friend with a sparkling sense of humor and a love of pizza.

"He was friends with everybody and it's not going to be the same without him. I know that," Joseph Hazzouri said.

The pastor of St. Patrick's Church remembered the boy as an altar server who often looked like he had just got out of bed, but was always dependable.

"I just found out a little while ago. I am just heartbroken for the whole family. He was one of my buddies as a server, so we are really going to miss him," said Fr. Martin Boylan.

No charges have been filed in the case. Police said they are waiting for the results of Turano's blood test, which are expected to take about a week.

The area of South Keyser Avenue in Old Forge where the crash happened will be closed to traffic from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday as police reconstruct the crash.

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