Two Maryland residents were killed Thursday night after a driver heading the wrong way on Interstate 83 slammed into oncoming traffic in York County, Pennsylvania, according to state police. The four-vehicle crash happened shortly before 10 p.m. near Exit 10 in Springfield Township, just outside Loganville.
Police identify wrong-way driver
Pennsylvania State Police identified the wrong-way driver as 75-year-old Deborah Williams of Middle River, according to WBFF. Investigators said Williams entered I-83 at Exit 10 in Springfield Township while driving a 2019 Honda CR-V in the wrong direction. Williams and a male passenger, also from Middle River, were both pronounced dead at the scene, police told WBFF. Authorities have not publicly released the passenger’s name.
Crash details
Troopers told WGAL that Williams’ Honda CR-V collided head-on with a southbound 2018 Chevrolet Suburban driven by 41-year-old Crystal J. Pasquale of Manchester. The impact rolled the Suburban onto its passenger side and spun Williams’ vehicle into nearby traffic, triggering a chain reaction that ultimately involved four vehicles. Emergency crews shut down lanes while the coroner and crash reconstruction teams worked into the night.
Investigation ongoing
Pennsylvania State Police said the investigation into the deadly wreck is still active and have not yet released a cause or announced any charges, according to WBFF. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Why wrong-way collisions are so deadly
Head-on crashes caused by wrong-way drivers are often devastating because combined speeds give other motorists almost no time to react. A 2004–2020 analysis of federal crash data found that wrong-way fatal crashes are relatively uncommon but disproportionately deadly, and they frequently end in head-on impacts, a pattern that matches what investigators say happened in York County.
Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate and said they will release further details when they are available. We will update this story if authorities provide new information.
