NEW WILMINGTON — A Mercer-area woman was injured when her car crashed into a tractor-trailer while she was sending a text message on her cellular telephone at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday on Route 158, north of Leesburg Station Road, Wilmington Township, police said.
Clarice Edinger, 18, was flown to St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, police said. A hospital spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday morning that Ms. Edinger had been brought there, but said no condition was available. A message left for the spokeswoman in the afternoon was not returned.
Ms. Edinger was northbound while the truck pulling a tanker loaded with milk was southbound, police said. Ms. Edinger apparently became distracted as she texted, and her car drifted into the southbound lane, police said.
The southbound truck, driven Eugene Bennick, 58, of Clymer, N.Y., swerved to the right, but could not avoid hitting the car, police said.
Ambulance personnel and New Wilmington volunteer firefighters removed Ms. Edinger from the car, police said.
The truck, owned by Heil Transport, climbed a six-foot embankment after impact and stopped about 150 feet from the road, police said.
New Wilmington police assisted.
