WORTH TOWNSHIP – A 60-year-old Drums man was killed in a two-vehicle accident that closed U.S. Route 322 near Anderson Lane for six hours Saturday afternoon in Worth Township, Centre County.
The Philipsburg-based state police identified the victim as Theodore Poulos, 60, of Drums. Poulos and Melvin Tressler Jr., 52, of Julian, who operated the second vehicle – a freightliner, were transported to the Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College.
Tressler sustained minor injuries. Both operators were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident. Their vehicles were also severely damaged and towed from the scene, state police said.
According to the report, Poulos was traveling east in the right lane at 12:50 p.m. His 2003 Suzuki XL-7 slowed and attempted to turn left into a private drive from the right-hand lane.
The Poulos vehicle turned into the path of the freightliner driven by Tressler, which had started to enter the passing lane to go around the Poulos vehicle. The front of the Tressler freightliner impacted the left side of the Poulos vehicle, state police said.
Both traveled off the roadway and onto the north berm at which time the right side of the Poulos vehicle impacted a large tree. After the impact, the Tressler freightliner overturned onto its right side. Both came to a rest.
Police were assisted at the scene by the Port Matilda Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the Reliance Fire Company of Philipsburg. Towing services were provided by Eagle Tire and Halfmoon Towing.
PennDOT and the Philipsburg fire companies provided traffic control, while the roadway was closed for approximately six hours during the investigation.
