1 Dies in Alburtis Accident, Witness Says

A man who may have had a medical episode died at the scene of an accident Saturday evening in Alburtis, according to a witness.

The green Ford Explorer drove off the road in the 600 block of Franklin Street, crashed through a split-rail fence, drove about 200 feet down grassy backyards, through brush and into a tributary of the Swabia Creek. Despite a response by Alburtis police and fire units, and and , no life-saving efforts were performed.

The unidentified driver was heading north on Franklin Street before Fort Sumter Road about 6 p.m. when his sport utility vehicle crashed through the fence in front of 691 Franklin St. Resident Cathy Moyer pointed to tire tracks in the grass that showed the SUV missed their house, a small tree and a utility police.

"He was slumped over the wheel, hit our fence and I yelled, "Call 911!"

Emergency units were dispatched to a motor-vehicle accident with rescue to the rear of the property.

Borough police were the first to arrive and checked the victim, whose vehicle was in the water, which was not very deep. Water did not appear to be the cause of death.

Firefighters arrived and began cutting brush in the area to access the SUV. Ladders were brought over for a potential rescue, but it became apparent the driver had died and there would be no resuscitation efforts.