Just after 9:00pm, emergency personnel responded to the top of Two Miler (Route 61 Mountain between Fountain Springs and Frackville), Butler Township, for a motor vehicle accident involving a vehicle over an embankment.
According to State Police at Frackville, A Dodge Durango, driven by Michael Ashline, 43 of Cornville, AZ was southbound on Route 61 ascending the hill and negotiating a sweeping left curve.
Police say the recent snowstorm had left roadside snow that had been blowing and drifting onto the roadway at various points.
These drifts were compacted into ice patches in spots on the otherwise dry roadway.
As Ashline continued his left curve, his vehicle hit one of these ice patches and the rear began to spin to the right.
Ashline's vehicle continued rotating counterclockwise approximately 100 degrees and slid across the northbound lane and shoulder then went off the northbound shoulder and down a 20 foot ditch embankment before striking a small tree with it's right front fender.
Ashline had been securely seatbelted and no airbag deployed. He was uninjured.
Ashline was to call his own AAA provided tow service. It was determined at the time that the best course of action would be to tow the vehicle back onto the roadway in the daylight hours the next day for safety reasons.
Police say the recent snowstorm had left roadside snow that had been blowing and drifting onto the roadway at various points.
These drifts were compacted into ice patches in spots on the otherwise dry roadway.
As Ashline continued his left curve, his vehicle hit one of these ice patches and the rear began to spin to the right.
Ashline's vehicle continued rotating counterclockwise approximately 100 degrees and slid across the northbound lane and shoulder then went off the northbound shoulder and down a 20 foot ditch embankment before striking a small tree with it's right front fender.
Ashline had been securely seatbelted and no airbag deployed. He was uninjured.
Ashline was to call his own AAA provided tow service. It was determined at the time that the best course of action would be to tow the vehicle back onto the roadway in the daylight hours the next day for safety reasons.
Penndot road maintenance (plow/salt trucks) continued treating the roadway.
Englewood Fire Company, Frackville, assisted at the scene.