A crash in Carbon County Monday killed the driver of a van that collided with an ambulance. It happened at an intersection that has seen its share of problems before.
Police said the traffic light that was supposed to make an intersection safer might have played a role in the deadly crash.
It happened a little after 8 a.m. Police said a mini-van broadsided an off-duty ambulance. The mini-van driver, Linda Huynh, 62, of Coaldale, died. The ambulance driver is okay.
The crash happened at the intersection of Route 443, Mill Road and Fritz Valley Road between Lehighton and Tamaqua.
Denise Frey has worked at a mini mart there for a dozen years. She said it's clear people have had a problem adjusting to the new traffic light.
"The first couple days I did see people hit the brakes. Yesterday, I was working and I saw people who totally ignored the light," Frey said.
The light here has been fully functioning for only 12 days.
There was a flashing, warning light at the intersection for three decades.
The Mahoning Valley police chief thinks the newness of the traffic signal might have been a factor in the deadly crash.
"It had been a flashing light for so many years so many people in the area are accustomed to it and are used to it, and not used to the totally functioning traffic signal," said Mahoning Township Police Chief Kenneth Barnes.
The investigation continues. The chief would like witnesses to contact police as soon as possible.
PennDOT put in the light to make the intersection safer and now it has done something to make the traffic light safer. A message board went up just hours after the deadly crash.
Steve Gall of Clamtown drives the road all the time. He thinks the warnings are too little, too late. "After 30 years of this light being blinking, everybody knows it's a blinking light. Now, it's a surprise," Galls aid.
A PennDOT spokesperson said the electronic message board will remain there until the agency feels the intersection is safe.
If you know anything that could help the police investigation, they would like you to give them a call at 570-386-2241.
Police said the traffic light that was supposed to make an intersection safer might have played a role in the deadly crash.
It happened a little after 8 a.m. Police said a mini-van broadsided an off-duty ambulance. The mini-van driver, Linda Huynh, 62, of Coaldale, died. The ambulance driver is okay.
The crash happened at the intersection of Route 443, Mill Road and Fritz Valley Road between Lehighton and Tamaqua.
Denise Frey has worked at a mini mart there for a dozen years. She said it's clear people have had a problem adjusting to the new traffic light.
"The first couple days I did see people hit the brakes. Yesterday, I was working and I saw people who totally ignored the light," Frey said.
The light here has been fully functioning for only 12 days.
There was a flashing, warning light at the intersection for three decades.
The Mahoning Valley police chief thinks the newness of the traffic signal might have been a factor in the deadly crash.
"It had been a flashing light for so many years so many people in the area are accustomed to it and are used to it, and not used to the totally functioning traffic signal," said Mahoning Township Police Chief Kenneth Barnes.
The investigation continues. The chief would like witnesses to contact police as soon as possible.
PennDOT put in the light to make the intersection safer and now it has done something to make the traffic light safer. A message board went up just hours after the deadly crash.
Steve Gall of Clamtown drives the road all the time. He thinks the warnings are too little, too late. "After 30 years of this light being blinking, everybody knows it's a blinking light. Now, it's a surprise," Galls aid.
A PennDOT spokesperson said the electronic message board will remain there until the agency feels the intersection is safe.
If you know anything that could help the police investigation, they would like you to give them a call at 570-386-2241.
