MOUNT CARMEL TOWNSHIP -- Judith Permar, 56, of Mount Carmel died Sunday morning after a tragic accident at clothing donation bin on Route 54 just outside Mount Carmel.
The Northumberland County coroner says Permar's left arm became trapped in the donation bin for hours overnight after the step stool she was standing on collapsed.
She was found dead later Sunday morning.
The coroner ruled her death accidental, saying she died from blunt force trauma and possible hypothermia.
“That's a horrible way to die, getting stuck like that. I guess she broke her arm,” said Alex Matelevich.
“To be standing there, knowing that just the person across the street could just turn the light on and help you and just there and not be able to call somebody or have somebody come help you,” said Kia Vazquez.
Michelle Podpora became emotional, saying she drove by that donation bin during the time Permar was stuck there.
“Horrible, I feel bad for that day. I drove by that area and I didn't see her, at 5 o`clock in the morning. So yeah, it hits me, hit me hard,” said Michelle Podpora.
Permar's son said she always wanted to help the less fortunate and constantly donated to those clothing bins.
Her son says in honor of his mother's giving heart, the family welcomes anyone who would like to attend her funeral service this Friday at the Stutz Funeral Home in Mount Carmel.
For people in Mount Carmel, their sympathies are with her family.
“There's no way I'd be in my right mind knowing that my wife or my mom or my sister died like that,” said Vazquez.
Services for Permar will start with a viewing at 10 a.m. with her funeral to follow after.
The Stutz Funeral Home is located at 40 South Market Street in Mount Carmel.
In lieu of flowers, her family asks people make donations to their local SPCA or animal shelter as Judith was an animal lover.
Judgey Judge Pants
Judgement comes from one place. ONE. Your insecure ego. So what are you all hiding, you little angels?!?! I’m willing to bet the harsher the judgement, the darker your secrets or the weaker your confidence. We all see right through your judgey comments, to your black souls. Facts don’t justify judgement. Judgement only rots your soul. This is horrible, period. Practice empathy, kinda helped us evolve to the place we are now. Unless the future of humanity isn’t important to you all, then keep being dicks.
Heather
She died STEALING FROM THE POOR, while driving a car that costs more than most people’s houses. I hope she was praying to God for forgiveness while dangling from her broken arm there. (If they right hand offends thee, cut it off, for it is better that you should lose your hand rather than your whole body be cast in hell. Matthew 5:30). And no, I don’t hope she’s in hell, but you gotta wonder….
raikiwai
You gotta wonder how you missed the part about ‘thou shall not judge’
natalie
Maybe she was in need! Those bins are for the needy right? Give her a break all of you judgers…very sad.
Heather
I’ll tell you what kind of need she was in, driving an SUV Hum Vee worth as much as a house–to sell decent stuff she picked through on ebay. That was her need…greed.
Gail Kent
Her kids don’t need to see some of the comments that are being said , people think of them , so sorry for your loss kids ….God be with you all ..
Bryan
Sadly this is a “For Proffit” drop box. USAgain, a green for-profit enterprise, works to reduce this textile waste by providing thousands of convenient locations across the US where you can recycle textiles any time of the day, any day of the year. They make money off your stuff. Give to a KNOWN charity. Also, some say she was stealing. Very sad.
whatsgoingon
Even though it was wrong what she did if she was indeed taking clothes and this was a “habit” of hers; there are monsters out there who deserve death WAY more. Just sayin’. God decided when good, bad, or indifferent, but for people to say she deserved it is a stretch at best.
duh
“She was fishing bags out and the ladder she was standing on gave way and she couldn’t get her hand loose,” said Mount Carmel Township police Chief Brian Hollenbush, when contacted by phone.
duh
I guess some people don’t like the truth.
Jeff Kozloski
Here’s a tidbit for those of you that don’t know… Not all of those “clothing drop box” containers are for the poor and needy. Some of them are collecting free inventory for used clothing shops. Beware, and choose wisely.
valentinebaby1
go over and read the story on pennlive. com, she was stealing from the bins not donating!
Bob Rimac
Sue the charity and bin manufacturer for a defective bin. Will it be on display at her viewing?
chris Perrien
As long as her family or a scumsucking shyster doesn’t sue the charity . I’ll consider this case close. I just hope her family is better than she was. Real judgement awiats her.
Giveme A. Brakke
Was that the “real story” really? – she was stealing from the needy. If you can’t report the truth don’t report anything at all. This is why people don’t trust the news. Sorry she died – terrible turn of events. She did not deserve that fate but the news needs to report the truth.
Courtney Dean
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY STEALING FROM THE DONATIONS BIN.
THE BINS ARE DESIGNED TO ALLOW DROP-OFF, WHILE PREVENTING THEFT – JUST LIKE USPS MAILBOXES.
Lloyd Schmucatelli
Why drop of clothes at 2am?
Shagtastique
Hmmmmm….
anonymous
pics or it didn’t happen
think positive
It’s so sad when something bad happens to a good Samaritan, doing something to help others. It just makes you ask, “WHY?”.
chris Perrien
It would be bad , but hard to have sympathy for someone obviously well -off stealing donations of real good smaritans and also denying such “alms to the poor”
laura may
She was taking clothes out not putting them in.