Recent Incidents LTFD Fire Police Assist @ Fatal Accident December 21st, 2006, 4:00 PM

Crash kills county man

Is fifth local traffic fatality in six days

An 87-year-old Manheim motorist died Thursday afternoon when his vehicle struck a dump truck head-on in East Hempfield Township, police said.

It was the fifth fatality since Saturday on Lancaster County roads.

Two other motorists were injured in the four-vehicle crash, which occurred at 1:55 p.m., East Hempfield Township police Officer Jere Baker said.

Taylor Meredith was driving a Mazda Protégé south on Rohrerstown Road when he struck a Pontiac Torrent that was exiting Route 283, according to Baker. The impact forced the Mazda into a Mack dump truck stopped at a red light in the left turn lane.

The Pontiac struck a box trailer parked on the west shoulder of Rohrerstown Road after being hit by the Mazda, Baker said.

Lancaster County Deputy Coroner Harold Connor pronounced Meredith dead at the scene. An autopsy is scheduled for today. Lancaster County Coroner Dr. G. Gary Kirchner said he thinks "a medical issue" might have been responsible for the crash.

David Knight, 58, of Oxford was driving the dump truck, and Lisa Matt, 42, of Lancaster was driving the Pontiac. Both sustained minor injuries, Baker said.

Police said Thursday night they were still investigating the cause of the wreck.

Thursday afternoon's crash was the fourth fatal accident since Saturday on Lancaster County roads and the second in East Hempfield Township. Five people have died in the wrecks:

·Two drivers, Kevin Jedrejczyk, 32, and Martin Hale, 65, both of Lititz, died in a head-on collision Monday night on Route 72 in East Hempfield Township.

·Robert James Small, 20, of Peach Bottom died in a Monday morning crash on Route 272 in Drumore Township.

·Kate Schuler, 18, a recent Warwick High School graduate, was killed early Saturday morning when the car she was in drove off West Newport Road in Penn Township and struck three trees.