Pocono News Section

State Police Reconstruct Fiery Weekend Crash

State Police Reconstruct Fiery Weekend Crash - Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 5:35PM EST

ASHLEY, LUZERNE COUNTY- Police spent part of the day piecing together the moments leading up to a deadly, fiery crash. The weekend wreck on Route 309 in Ashley killed one driver and injured another. Family members of one of the drivers watched as police investigated.
Members of the Herron family huddle together with an officer at Bentley's plaza along Route 309 in Ashley. They're on hand as state troopers and Ashley police take measurements along the highway that became the scene of Sunday's horrifying crash.

Police say 77-year-old Jean Herron of Mountain Top slammed into the rear of a classic car with her SUV.

64-year-old Craig Lear of Mountain Top was at the wheel of the Chevy Nova and died in the fiery wreck. Lear was trying to cross oncoming traffic and turn left into Bentley's when he was struck.

Jean Herron’s son John said, “The passing lane is a high-speed passing lane. It's not a left turn lane."

John Herron isn't discussing his mother's role in the crash -- he's stating fact about part of the highway that raises safety concerns.

The Herron family is familiar with this stretch of Route 309 knowing that it was dangerous, fearing a tragedy could one-day happen... never knowing their loved one would be involved.

John Herron has routinely driven past the accident scene for decades. "There's always been several close calls over the years here that I've witnessed a few of my own, nothing never had any collisions or anything," he said.

But now Herron's mother's been involved in one of the most devastating crashes ever. The family doesn't want to see something like this ever happen again. John Herron said, "You really have to focus on how you can make traffic come down the mountain and safely turn left into this parking lot.

PennDOT and a state lawmaker will meet Friday, to discuss what to do about it.

Jean Herron was upgraded from critical to serious condition at Geisinger Wyoming Valley.

The funeral for Craig Lear will be held Friday.