FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa — A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded early Wednesday morning when three people were killed in a violent crash involving a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer on Route 11 (Molly Pitcher Highway) in Greene Township, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
Authorities say the collision occurred around 6:30 a.m. when a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, traveling southbound, crossed the center turning lane and veered into the northbound lane, slamming head-on into an oncoming tractor-trailer. The impact was catastrophic, leaving the passenger vehicle mangled beyond recognition and prompting an immediate response from emergency crews.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office pronounced all three occupants of the Lincoln dead at the scene. They have been identified as 47-year-old Saintanie Jean Baptiste and 42-year-old Jodelens Joseph, both of Chambersburg, along with 30-year-old Claire Elveus of Lauderhill, Florida. Investigators say none of the victims survived the force of the collision, which scattered debris across both lanes of the busy highway.
The driver of the tractor-trailer sustained a possible injury but is expected to recover, officials confirmed. Following the crash, Route 11 was shut down between Wagner Road and Pinola Road for several hours while state police conducted a detailed investigation and crews worked to clear the wreckage. The road was later reopened once it was deemed safe for travel.
Investigators with the Pennsylvania State Police continue to examine what caused the Lincoln to drift into the opposite lane. While no official cause has been determined, authorities have not ruled out driver error or distraction as potential factors in the deadly crash.
The Chambersburg community is reeling from the devastating loss, as family and friends of the victims mourn three lives cut tragically short. Local residents have expressed their grief and urged all drivers to stay alert and cautious, especially during early morning commutes when visibility and fatigue can become dangerous factors on rural highways like Route 11.
