Indiana County crash claims 14-year-old passenger

An Indiana County teen was fatally injured in a vehicle crash Wednesday after a motorist swerved into the path of the vehicle she was riding in, according to Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman.

Brittany Eileen Keith, 14, of Cherryhill Township, was treated by a Citizens’ Ambulance Service crew and was taken from the crash scene to Indiana Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, Overman said.

Overman had yet to rule on the cause and manner of her death, pending an autopsy.

He said the crash occurred before 5 p.m. while Keith was a rear seat passenger in a vehicle traveling on Route 553, near Route 422.

A Honda Accord that was headed northeast on Route 553 crossed the center line and collided with the Hyundai Santa Fe sport utility vehicle occupied by Keith, state police said. The Hyundai left the road and struck a tree.

Police said three other motorists in the Hyundai were taken by ambulance for treatment. Driver William Shroyer, 34, was seriously injured while passenger Melissa Shroyer, 30, had a minor injury, according to police. Both are from Penn Run.

A male rear seat passenger, whom police didn’t identify, also had a serious injury.

Jeremy Dixon, 31, of Northern Cambria, was driving the Honda and wasn’t injured, police said.

An investigation is continuing, including work by a state police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Specialist unit.