BRADFORD TOWNSHIP – State police in Clearfield reported that an automobile accident on U.S. Route 322 Monday shortly before noon claimed the life of one female and left others injured.
According to police the accident occurred between Woodland and Bigler. Police stated that Michael Hanright of Allport was traveling east on U.S. Route 322 when he left the roadway in an attempt to pass Stanley Hale of Hermitage. He swerved, left and reentered the roadway directly in front of Hale’s vehicle, at which time the left side of his vehicle struck the right front of Hale’s vehicle. After impact Hanright entered the westbound lane of U.S. Route 322 directly in front of Stephen Cowher of Tyrone, at which time the two vehicles struck each other. After that Hanright’s vehicle struck a utility pole.
Police reported that two occupants of Hanright’s vehicle were ejected from the vehicle.
The drivers of the other two vehicles reported no injuries. Hanright suffered minor injuries and was not wearing his seat belt.
Passenger Michelle Hazel suffered serious injuries, one female in her vehicle died, and Dennis Harvey, passenger in her vehicle, suffered moderate injuries. They were flown to Altoona Regional.
Police had originally reported that Hazel was the driver of the totaled vehicle, but in an update listed Hanright as the vehicle’s driver.
Two children in the vehicle were flown to Pittsburgh for treatment of injuries.
The initial report stated that none of the passengers in Hanright’s vehicle were wearing seat belts. The update did not indicate whether the children were wearing safety belts or whether the deceased female was wearing a seat belt.