NEW RINGGOLD - Police have identified the driver of a car that slammed into a tractor-trailer Tuesday night in East Brunswick Township.
Zachary C. Teter, 22, of New Ringgold, was pronounced dead at the scene of the fiery collision at 10:30 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Larry Neff, Andreas. The preliminary cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force trauma, officials said.
Neff said officials initially withheld Teter's name until he was positively identified and his family notified.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was identified as Fidelix Iyoha, 59, of Grand Prairie, Texas, whom police said complained of arm pain but refused medical treatment.
The crash occurred about 9:05 p.m. on Route 895, about a half-mile east of Keim Street, police said.
Teter was driving a 2008 Volkswagen east on Route 895 and crossed over into the westbound lane, striking the front bumper of the oncoming 2007 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Iyoha, police said.
After impact, police said Teter's car was pushed westward and began to spin counterclockwise while Iyoha's truck continued west.
The truck went into the eastbound lane, where it struck guide rails on the south side of the road with its passenger side front before coming to a stop against the guide rail facing south.
Police said Teter's car came to rest in the eastbound lane facing north.
Police said both vehicles caught fire and the tractor portion of Iyoha's truck was completely destroyed, along with most of Teter's car.
Firefighters from New Ringgold, West Penn Township and Orwigsburg were called to extinguish the flames and EMS units from Penn Mahoning and Pottsville-Schuylkill Haven Area EMS assisted at the scene.
Route 895 was closed for several hours while a state police accident reconstruction team assisted with the investigation.
Police said the investigation into the crash is continuing.