Fatal Accident Closes N. President Ave.

Photo By Blaine T. Shahan

LANCASTER TOWNSHIP, PA — Lancaster City police Investigators are trying to determine what caused a 47-year-old Manor Township woman to veer off a Lancaster Township road into a tree, killing the driver instantly.

There were no apparent skid marks along Wheatland Avenue, in the intersection or along President Avenue. No other vehicles were involved in the fatal collision.

Her silver 2004 Ford Taurus sedan collided head-on with the tree, investigators said.

Lancaster city police Officer Mark Radmore is investigating what may have caused the woman's car to leave the roadway.

Police identified the victim of the fatal one-car crash as Phyllis Lilley, of the 3000 block of Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA.

Lancaster Township Fire Department was dispatched to the accident, Saturday December 30 at 6:21 p.m.

Responding units were advised by Lancaster County Wide Communications a car struck a tree with one person unconscious inside the vehicle.

Lancaster City Police arrived on the scene shortly after the first 911 call and reported heavy entrapment of the occupant of the vehicle and a large amount of gasoline covering the accident scene.

Lancaster EMS medics evaluated the patient and found no sign of life in the victim, but they heard a dog whining. She had a dog with her, but no other passengers.

The dog, a pit bull, was treated by Organization for Responsible Care of Animals (ORCA), and was later euthanized as a result of injuries it sustained in the crash.

The dog "didn't have a promising outcome," Connie Kondravy, of Organization for Responsible Care of Animals, said.

The dog suffered kidney injuries that would have prevented it from walking, Kondravy said.

Firefighters had to disconnect the car's horn, which had been blowing since the time of the wreck.

The impact of the collision split the gas tank causing a large amount of gasoline to spill onto the accident scene.

Firefighters changed their mission from patient rescue to fire suppression. A Task Force Tips PRO/pak portable foam system was used to spread foam over the crash site.

What was left of the car windshield, driver and passenger side doors were draped with white sheets while police conducted their investigation.

Lilley was pronounced dead at the scene by Lancaster County deputy coroner Matt Arnold.

Lancaster County Coroner Dr. G. Gary Kirchner performed an autopsy.

Lilley died of massive internal injures, Lancaster city police Officer Mark Radmore said.

After the investigation, firefighters assisted the Groff Funeral Home directors and deputy coroner with patient removal and packaging.

Elizabeth Bamford, a Wheatland Avenue resident, said she was in her kitchen when she heard a loud bang.

"I came out and saw smoke coming from the car," she said. "I went to call 911, but saw a police car pull up.

"This doesn't look good to me," she said while standing at the corner watching emergency personnel working. "There are a lot of bad accidents at this corner."

Traffic was detoured around the intersection of North President and Wheatland avenues until just before 10 p.m

Anyone with information about the accident should call Lancaster city police at 735-3300.

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