Police from throughout the area reported a number of accidents on Monday afternoon during a period of poor driving conditions created by yesterday’s wet weather.
An Altoona man, 48-year-old John Oliver Allender, was driving along State Route 350, two-tenths of a mile north of State Route 4025 when he lost control of his vehicle while traveling downhill and attempting to negotiate a right curve. Police said the wet road conditions played a role in the accident when Allender’s vehicle crossed the center line and struck a vehicle operated by Jean G. McElwain of Tyrone.
Allender had 10 passengers in his van, neither he or the passengers were injured. McElwain also escaped injury.
Both vehicles were traveling at a slow rate of speed. Huntingdon-based state police were assisted at the scene by the Warriors Mark Fire Police and Hunter’s Towing.
Earlier Monday afternoon, two accidents occurred within a short time of each other in Antis Township.
A pick-up truck operated by 22-year-old Michael Robert Ciampoli was traveling on State Route 4018 about seven-tenths of a mile west of Kerbaugh Road about 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. Ciampoli was traveling east and lost control of his vehicle on the wet road. His vehicle then left the road and traveled onto the south berm, Ciampoli’s truck traveled on the berm for a short time and then traveled back on the road, ultimately leaving the road and going onto the north berm where it eventually struck a concrete culvert with its undercarriage.
Ciampoli’s vehicle traveled into a drainage ditch and struck a speed limit sign, it continued to travel and struck a telephone pole with its right front side and then came to a rest in a drainage ditch.
Ciampoli suffered minor injuries, while a passenger, 22-year-old Andrew Crist, RR 1, Altoona, was not injured. Both men were wearing seat belts.
Shortly before Ciampoli’s accident, a two-vehicle accident occurred in Antis Township along State Route 4019 at the intersection of T-481.
Police did not make any mention of wet roads in the incident, but rainy conditions were reported in the area throughout the afternoon.
Twenty-year-old Joseph Robert Settlemyer was traveling south on State Route 4019 at the same time, a vehicle operated by 20-year old Shauna Greiner of RR 2, Tyrone was traveling north. While rounding a curve at the intersection with T-481, Settlemyer failed to negotiate the curve and crossed over the center line striking Greiner’s vehicle head-on.
Both drivers were taken to Altoona Hospital by Bellwood Ambulance with minor injuries. State police were assisted by the Pinecroft Volunteer Fire Department.
