Palestine teens injured in crash

DARLINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Two recent East Palestine High School graduates were injured in a two-car crash on state Route 51 Saturday night which is being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police.

According to information provided Sunday by the state police, Nicholas J. Kennedy, 19, Bacon Avenue, was eastbound on Taggart Road at 7:45 p.m. when he turned his vehicle left onto state Route 51 in the path of northbound Steven R. Reinhart, 19, 6th Avenue, Freedom, Pa.

Reinhart's Cadillac El Dorado reportedly struck the rear of Kennedy's Chevrolet Lumina, causing severe damage to both vehicles.

Kennedy was transported to Beaver Medical Center for moderate injuries, and he was treated and released, while his passenger, 18-year-old Melanie M. Huffman, Maple Grove Lane, New Waterford, was flown by STATMedEvac to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown for severe injuries.

A hospital spokesman declined to give any information Sunday night on Huffman's condition.

Reinhart was not injured, and his passenger, Michael J. Javens, 19, 34th Avenue, New Brighton, suffered minor injuries, according to police. It was unclear if Javens sought medical attention.

In a Beaver County Times account, Reinhart was quoted as saying he had no time to stop when Kennedy's vehicle cut out in front of him and that he could not swerve due to a car next to him in the adjacent lane.

Also according to the news report, Huffman had spent the last week on a mission trip in New Orleans for Our Lady of Lourdes Church and had just returned, having been picked up by Kennedy.

State police had no further comment Sunday, saying the investigation is continuing.