CLEARFIELD – An early morning accident on US Route 322 in Bradford Township claimed two lives.
According to the state police in Clearfield, Merrill K. Nearhood, 33 of Munson, and Benjamin L. Swanson, 21 of Woodland, died as a result of the accident.
Police said that Nearhood was traveling west on US Route 322. While rounding a left curve, he crossed the center line, striking Swanson’s vehicle head-on. Nearhood’s vehicle overturned and continued traveling in a northwestern direction, finally coming to rest on its roof, facing southwest. Swanson’s vehicle rotated counter-clockwise and traveled east a short distance before coming to rest in the eastbound lane, facing southwest.
Both Nearhood and Swanson were pronounced dead at the scene at 6:42 a.m. by Deputy Coroner Mike Polachek.
A passenger in teh Swanson vehicle, 18-year-old Jordan Graham of Woodland, was transported by STAT MedEvac to Altoona Regional for further evaluation.
Police were assisted at the scene by the Lawrence Township Volunteer Fire Department, BJW Fire Department, PennDOT, Clearfield Emergency Medical Services and the Lawrence Township Police Department.