4/17/19
by News Department on 04/17/19Victim ID'd...
The victim in a deadly crash on Route 61 on Monday has been identified.
According to Skook News, State Police at Schuylkill Haven said the crash happened around 7:00pm Monday evening at the intersection of Route 61 and Route 895 as 54 year old Franklin Ruch, of Lehighton, was travelling westbound on Route 895 in an SUV and 46 year old Gary Reinoehl, of Pine Grove, was driving a flatbed truck northbound on Route 61. Both vehicles entered the intersection where the traffic signals were not functioning, and Reinohl's flatbed slammed into the side of the SUV.
Ruch was pronounced dead at the scene by a Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner. Reinoehl was not injured.
Police are reminding drivers that in the event of a traffic signal not functioning, drivers are required to treat the traffic signal as a stop sign in all directions.
