TRR photo by David Hulse (Click for larger image)

Double-fatal on Route 55

BARRYVILLE — Two people were killed and third seriously injured in a two-vehicle Route 55, head-on collision on the evening of March 7.

State police said that a northbound car driven by Julius Szabo, 67, of White Lake, crossed over into the opposite lane and struck a pickup truck operated by Amador LaPut, Jr., 28, of Glen Spey. The accident severely damaged both vehicles.

Szabo and his backseat passenger, Heidi Holway, 28, of Eldred, were extricated from the car by Yulan Fire Department and Eldred American Legion Ambulance personnel. Both were said to have died instantanly in the crash and were declared dead at the scene by Sullivan County Coroner Tom Warren. Neither had been using seat belts, police said.

LaPut suffered leg and internal injuries and was airlifted by Stat-Flite helicopter to the Westchester Medical Center at Valhalla, where he was said to be recovering.

A state police investigation of the cause into the accident is continuing and investigators are awaiting results of toxicology tests from the victims.

Lumberland firefighters assisted at the scene of the 7:15 p.m. accident, about one-half mile north of Barryville.