Two people were killed and 17 others were injured late Saturday after a man allegedly plowed his car into a crowded Pennsylvania fundraiser for fire victims, and then bludgeoned his mother to death. Of the 17 people injured in the first incident, four were in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Three were in fair condition and five were still being evaluated for conditions at the hospital. Another three patients were taken to other hospitals and had either been treated and released, or were still being evaluated for condition.
State troopers said early Sunday that the man, Adrian Oswaldo Sura Reyes, 24, mowed down mourners then fled the area only to commit a crme in a nearby town, where officers took him into custody for “physically assaulting” a woman who was found dead at the scene, reportedly Sura Reyes’ mother. Local outlets reported however that Sura Reyes argued with her before allegedly beating her to death.
The victims at the fundraiser had gathered at a local bar for a daylong benefit for the Nescopeck fire victims’ families when the crash allegedly occurred around 6:30 p.m. It was being held for a tragedy thar happened last Friday, when a huge fire at a home in Nescopeck killed 10 family members and 13 dogs. Pennsylvania State Police public information officer Anthony Petroski said Sura Reyes was not considered a suspect in the Aug. 5 Nescopeck house fire “at this time.”
Police would not say whether they believe Sura Reyes intentionally crashed into the crowd of mourners, killing one person. Columbia County Coroner Jeremy Reese told WBRE the victim was a 50-year-old woman. As he was escorted by state police to an arraignment early Sunday, a shackled Sura Reyes only said “sorry,” according to reporters at the scene.