PORT CARBON - A 31-year-old Branch Township man died when the car he was driving slammed into the trailer portion of a car carrier about 9 a.m. Thursday on Route 209 in East Norwegian Township.
Scott B. Bedford, Llewellyn Road, Pottsville, was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:43 a.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Scott Clews. Police said the man was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Trooper David Beam of the Schuylkill Haven station said the crash occurred as Bedford was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu north on Route 209, toward New Philadelphia, when he lost control on a right curve in front of Boardman Brothers Auto.
The car crossed over the center double yellow line and entered the southbound lane where it struck the driver's side trailer of a 2000 Volvo tractor-trailer car carrier being driven south by Wilson C. Murray, 45, of West Chester.
After hitting the trailer, Beam said, Bedford's car continued north and came to a stop in the northbound lane facing west.
Murray was not injured, but Bedford was heavily entrapped inside his car and had to be removed by firefighters from Pottsville's Yorkville Hose Company Rescue Squad.
Emergency medical personnel from Pottsville-Schuylkill Haven Area EMS initially tried to treat Bedford but his injuries proved fatal.
Murray, who was wearing his seat belt, was not injured.
At the scene, a visibly shaken Murray said he had just left the All American Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership along Route 309 in Tamaqua and was headed to a dealership in Pottsville when the crash occurred.
Murray said he saw the car coming in the opposite direction and then cross over the center line and begin to drive into his path.
"I tried to move over (onto the berm) as much as I could but there was no way I could get out of the way," he said while standing near his rig in a misty rain.
Murray also said there was a woman in a van behind him who was able to steer to the right and take cover behind his trailer to avoid getting hit.
"She was shaken," he said of the woman. "If my truck didn't get hit, he could have hit her head on."
Beam said no charges are pending in the crash and that East Norwegian Township, New Philadelphia and Port Carbon firefighters assisted at the scene along with Port Carbon Fire Police.
Route 209 was shut down in both directions for more than four hours while the crash was investigated and Bedford's vehicle was removed.