Falls residents identified as two killed in Lower Southampton accident

Posted: Friday, March 20, 2015 

A 64-year-old woman and her 79-year-old friend have been identified as the people killed in a three-vehicle accident in Lower Southampton on Thursday night.

Sharon A. Vince and Charles H. Rishel, both of the Fairless Hills section of Falls, were killed after a westbound Chevy Tahoe entered the eastbound lanes of Street Road near Old Street Road and struck their car, police said.

Vince, who was driving, was pronounced dead at the accident scene, and Rishel died a short time later at St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown, according to Bucks County Coroner Dr. Joseph Campbell. Vince and Rishel both died of multiple injuries and their deaths have been ruled accidental, he said.

They both were wearing seat belts and airbags in the car deployed at the time of the crash, Campbell said.

Lower Southampton police have not released the name of the Tahoe driver, a 27-year-old Bucks County woman, who had to be extricated from the vehicle. Lt. Ted Kimmel said she was taken to St. Mary Medical Center with moderate injuries.

Meanwhile, Rishel’s son, Charles Jr., said his dad was very active and has spent time kayaking with Vince.

“From what I’m told, they were coming home from church when the crash occurred. My wife saw the crash on the news Thursday night and we went to bed not knowing who had been involved. I got the call at 1:30 a.m. Friday and it’s very tough on our family. We lost our mom two years ago; she and my dad were married more than 45 years,” Rishel said.

“I’m angry, but I’m not gonna scream and yell about it,” he said. “From what I hear the other driver has two young children. She has to live with this the rest of her life.”

Detectives have spoken with the other driver and she is cooperating with the investigation, Krimmel said. Police have said the crash may be alcohol-related, but no charges were filed as of Friday.

The crash was reported shortly before 8 p.m. Police said their preliminary investigation shows the Tahoe, which had just passed Philmont Avenue, appeared to have struck a curb, blown a tire and ricocheted into oncoming eastbound traffic. The Tahoe collided with Vince’s Honda, pushing it off Street Road into a wooded area. The Tahoe also ended up in the woods on its side.

A third vehicle that was also eastbound on Street Road sustained minor damage after it was clipped by one of the vehicles involved in the crash, Krimmel said. The driver was not injured.

The crash and its subsequent police investigation kept Street Road between Central and Philmont avenues in Feasterville closed for more than two hours.

Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@calkins.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia