Pocono News Section

Marino Released from Hospital, Discusses Car Crash

Marino Released from Hospital, Discusses Car Crash - Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 04:07AM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Thursday June 03 2010
A candidate for U. S. Congress has been released from a local hospital following a nasty car crash.

And police say the other driver is suspected of being under the influence at the time.

U. S. congressional candidate Thomas Marino has been released from the hospital after the violent car crash in Bradford County Tuesday night.

A still sore Marino says, other than a few aches and pains, he's doing alright.

Now he hopes others will take an important lesson from his story.

Photographs show the damage to Tom Marino's truck, and the car driven by 23-year-old Michele Merschbach, of Towanda.

Police suspect Merschbach was drunk Tuesday night when she crossed the center line and crashed head-on into Marino's truck on Route 6 in Bradford County.

Marino recalled, "I can remember just thinking to myself, this is it. And the first thing that went through my mind were my children. And then once- literally- the dust settled, I realized that, 'Hey, I'm still alive here.'"

Marino spent the past two nights at Towanda Memorial Hospital.

He says was not drinking Tuesday night, and requested a blood alcohol test on himself as further proof.

Marino says he bears no ill will toward Michele Merschbach, and only hopes others can learn from his unfortunate situation.

He noted, "I hope she learned a lesson. And I hope more importantly that people read about this and hear about it. You can't even take a drink and drive. It's too scary. To have to live with that the rest of your life- if someone died or was seriously injured- nobody should have to do that."

Marino credits everyone from passersby to paramedics and the hospital medical team for their quick response and quality care.

He says he's ready to move forward.

Marino added, "I'm raring to get back to the campaign and work hard. We're taking nothing for granted. A lot of people are relying on me."

We're told DUI charges against Michele Merschbach are pending the results of her blood alcohol tests.

She suffered only minor injuries and was released from the hospital Wednesday morning.