MAHONING TWP. — A Danville man died Friday when the car he was riding in appears to have crossed the center line of Route 11 before colliding with another car, officials said.

A red Ford Focus with two people inside crashed into a Volkswagen driven by a man, police say, and the Volkswagen was then struck by a third vehicle.

Firefighters cut the roof of the badly damaged red Ford and the driver, along the with the Volkswagen driver, were taken to Geisinger Medical Center near Danville, police said.

The passenger in the Ford was pronounced dead at the crash site by Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn.

He said family out of state has yet to be notified so the name is not being released until that happens.

‘No doubt’
Richard Webb of Riverside was driving the third vehicle toward Danville a few cars behind the red Ford Focus.

He said it appeared the driver of the Ford had fallen asleep and careened into the opposite lane, striking the Volkswagen head on.

“He fell asleep,” Webb said. “No doubt in my mind to swerve like that.”

Webb said the impact forced the Volkswagen into his lane and he couldn’t avoid it.

His Chevrolet Cobalt hit the rear of the Volkswagen while it was in the center of the roadway which has a passing lane.

“I tried everything I could (to avoid it),” he said. “It wasn’t good.”

Webb’s Cobalt sustained front-end damage and the air bags deployed, but he was not injured.

Lynn said the cause of the crash, and which car crossed the line, is still under investigation.

Road closed
The crash caused Route 11 to be closed between Route 54 in Danville and Ridge Road in Point Township starting about 2:30 p.m.

It remained closed until about 7 p.m. as State Police gathered information to reconstruct the crash, and the vehicles were towed.

Firefighters cleaned up car parts and fluids that littered the roadway.

Police from Mahoning Township, Danville and Riverside assisted along with the Montour County Sheriff’s Office, Danville Fire Department, Mahoning Fire Co. and fire police.