CHESTNUTHILL TOWNSHIP -- State police blame speeding for a crash Saturday afternoon on Route 115 in Monroe County that left one adult and four children dead.
Troopers say all five victims were all in a SUV that was headed south on Route 115 in Effort. They say the SUV went out of control as the driver tried to pass another vehicle near the intersection with North Rocky Mountain Drive.
The SUV hit two vehicles and flipped onto its side. A fourth vehicle could not avoid the pileup.
State police identify the driver of the SUV as Destini Watson, 23, of Blakeslee. She died in the crash. So did two boys and two girls who were riding in the SUV. Another passenger, Monisha Roberts, 21, had to be flown to a hospital.
Troopers have not released the names or ages of the four children who died, but say all four were from Blakeslee.
Troopers add that the two women in the SUV were wearing seat belts, but say that none of the four children had on a seat belt or was in a booster seat.
Three other vehicles were involved in the wreck. One of those drivers, Harold Roberts, 77, of Albrightsville was flown to a hospital. Another driver, Wade Hunter, 53, of Blakeslee was taken to a hospital by ambulance. The fourth driver, Patrick Mikolaitis, 41, of Dallas suffered minor injuries.
The crash happened around 2:45 Saturday afternoon. Route 115 in that area was closed for seven hours.