At least 13 people were injured in Pennsylvania after a car plowed into a fundraiser for the families of 10 people who died in a recent house fire.
The crash happened around 6.30pm on Saturday at a Berwick restaurant which was hosting a day-long event earlier this month to raise money for the families of those killed in the fire, which is under criminal investigation.
At least 13 people injured in the accident were being evaluated at the nearby Geisinger Medical Center for medical care, WNEP-TV reported.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the crash was accidental or the result of a deliberate attack on the fundraiser.
At least 13 people were injured in Pennsylvania after a car plowed into a fundraiser for the families of 10 people who died in a recent house fire
The crash happened around 6.30pm on Saturday at a restaurant in Berwick which was hosting a day-long event to raise money for the families of those killed in the fire
Areas around Center Street in Berwick were closed after the crash, the PA homepage reported.
In a Facebook post, the Department of Toxicology, the restaurant where Saturday’s fundraiser took place, said they will be closing their doors until further notice.
“Today was an absolute tragedy. We remain closed until further notice. Please respect our privacy as we grieve and try to process the events that have occurred. Many Thanks.’
Saturday’s victims were gathered at the Toxicology Unit to raise money for the families of those killed in the deadly fire at nearby Nescopeck on August 5.
It’s unclear what started the fire at the home, where 14 people lived, but Pennsylvania State Police said they were conducting a “complex criminal investigation.”
State police said seven adults, ranging in age from their late teens to as young as 79, were killed along with children, ages five, six and seven.
It’s unclear what started the deadly fire at the home, where 14 people lived, but Pennsylvania State Police said they were conducting a “complex criminal investigation.”
All 10 died from smoke inhalation, according to the Lucerne County Coroner’s Office.
A decision on the manner of death – whether the deaths were accidental or homicide – is pending the results of state police investigations into the fire, officials said.
County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said a preliminary investigation suggested the fire started around 2:30 a.m. on the porch.
Three people escaped the fire that destroyed the building. The cause is under further investigation.
Nescdeck is a small town on the Susquehanna River about 20 miles southwest of Wilkes-Barre.
A volunteer firefighter came to tackle the blaze only to find the victims were his own family, authorities said.
Harold Baker, a volunteer firefighter in the town of Nescdeck, said the 10 victims included his son, daughter, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, three grandchildren and two other relatives.
Harold Baker, a volunteer firefighter in the town of Nescdeck, said he came to fight the blaze only to find the victims were his own relatives
Two of the minor victims who died in the Nescdeck fire in the early hours of August 5
He said his two children and the other young victims visited their aunt and uncle’s home to swim and have other summer fun.
He said 13 dogs were also in the two-story home, but didn’t say if he knew if any survived.
“All I wanted to do was go in there and get to these people, my family. That was all I thought about getting to them,” Baker said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
Baker grabbed a hose and an air pack and began pouring water on the fire, desperate to get in and call for his son. His boss realized whose house it was, and other firefighters escorted Baker back to the fire station.
Development of the story, more to come.