Columbia Spy

A man was killed and a woman injured when their vehicles collided late Thursday night on Route 30 in West Hempfield Township.

The man was driving the wrong way on Route 30 West at the time of the crash, a preliminary investigation has shown.

West Hempfield Township police, in conjunction with the Lancaster County District Attorney’s office, continue to investigate the crash, which happened just before midnight, near Prospect Road.

The deceased man, a 56-year-old from Lancaster County, was reportedly driving a Pontiac coupe east in the westbound lanes of Route 30 when he collided head-on with the woman’s Hyundai SUV.

The woman, a 32-year-old from Wrightsville, is hospitalized with injuries.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name will be released upon proper notification of relatives.

Anyone with information, who witnessed the crash or what happened before it, is asked to contact West Hempfield Township police at 717-285-5191.

Prior to the crash, other motorists called 911 and reported a vehicle, the Pontiac, was traveling the wrong way on Route 30.

Early information indicates the man was traveling west on Route 30 and made a U-turn in York County, just west of the Wright’s Ferry Bridge, then traveled east for about five miles before the crash.

Assisting West Hempfield Township police were: Columbia, East Hempfield Township and East Lampeter Township police; West Hempfield Fire Rescue and Columbia Borough Fire Department; Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.

A public meeting will be held at 2 p.m. this Sunday, January 6, at 500 Chestnut Street to discuss repealing the borough’s recent tax hike. Other issues will also be discussed including the formation of a citizens’ coalition.

Petitions and voter registration forms will be available at the meeting. (So far, 915 signatures have been collected on petitions.)

All concerned citizens should attend and make their voices heard.

(Light refreshments will be served.)

Following are our predictions for Columbia for the coming year. Some are educated guesses. Others are mere speculation:

• A business entity will take over trolley operation under contract with the borough.

• A business will request $400,000-$650,000 from the revolving loan fund.

• Assistant Borough Manager Georgianna Schreck will retire/resign.

• New Finance Manager Kyle Watts will move to another position within the borough.

• Four councillors up for election this fall will be swept out of office.

• Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger will resign.

• Full-time Property Inspector Jay Frerichs will be promoted.

• A company will begin operation in some shape or form at the Colonial Metals site.

“I would first like to address a concern that was raised following the last meeting. It was brought to my attention that a member of the public who spoke before this board voicing his concerns regarding the KOEZ was approached following the meeting and treated harshly. I’d encourage any member of the public wishing to speak before this board to do so without fear of being verbally attacked following our meetings. I’d appreciate it if members of the public resolved their concerns or disagreements at the podium and act with civility towards each other while you’re on school grounds or here at the DAC.”

 – Columbia School Board President Keith Combs at December 18, 2018 Special School Board Meeting

The quote above is in response to an incident that allegedly occurred after the December 13th special school board meeting at the District Administration Center.

Attendees at December 13, 2018 school board meeting 

It was reported by a citizen who had spoken at the meeting that he was verbally accosted with insults and profanity by members of another party afterwards. The attack was reportedly in response to his remarks opposing aspects of the KOEZ tax abatement program. Immediately after the incident, the citizen called Columbia Spy who subsequently contacted School Superintendent Tom Strickler, and later, School Board President Keith Combs. On December 18, the citizen was verbally attacked again by a person affiliated with the same party – this time at Stover’s News Agency, with witnesses present.

After Combs read the statement at the December 18 meeting, the citizen reported the second incident to those in attendance and later contacted police. According to the citizen, he is currently in the process of contacting a lawyer.

Columbia Spy has also experienced similar, but less threatening, verbal attacks on borough streets and businesses from the perpetrator of the second incident described above. In response police were contacted, and legal remedies are being sought.

The incidents described above are examples of bullying, harassment and attempted intimidation. Such behavior can lead to arrest and be addressed through legal means. Columbia News, Views & Reviews has also published an article on the incident(s), as well as information on bullying and harassment HERE.