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Carlisle Man Killed Slamming Into Tow Truck ID'd: Coroner

A driver who died after back-to-back crashes on Pennsylvania Route 581 has been identified, Cumberland County Coroner Charles Hall told Daily Voice. 

Alexander O'Donnell-Colella, a tow truck hauling a passenger vehicle, and a map showing where the deadly crash happened at PA 581 and US 15.

Alexander O'Donnell-Colella, a tow truck hauling a passenger vehicle, and a map showing where the deadly crash happened at PA 581 and US 15.

Photo Credit: Google Maps (Satellite); Pixabay/Nanncybates (left overlay); GoFundMe "Alexander O'Donnell-Collela" Allysia Odonnell

 Alexander O’Donnell-Colella, 28, of Carlisle, died a the scene of the two crashes on Sunday, Sept. 17.

The first crash involved two passenger vehicles on PA Route 581 east at the on-ramp from US Route 15, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler explained. That crash happened around 9 p.m. 

"A tow was nearby and responded to help protect the other vehicles," she said. "A third passenger vehicle slammed into the back of the tow."

A coroner was called to the scene for the driver that struck the tow truck, according to Schrefler. 

O’Donnell-Colella's two passengers were a 26-year-old woman from Carlisle and a 32-year-old woman from Mechanicsburg, according to a state police release the following day. Both women were taken to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center with serious injuries, the Pennsylvania State Police explained in a release. 

O’Donnell-Colella died of traumatic head injuries and the manner was accidental, according to Hall. 

The other drivers involved suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The tow truck driver was evaluated at the scene but was unharmed, according to PSP. 

Rt. 581 at exit 5: US 15 S - US 11/15 N Gettysburg/Camp Hill remained closed for approximately two hours as Pennsylvania State Police troopers conducted crash reconstruction as part of their investigation. 

He is survived by his sister and brother who launched a GoFundMe to help cover the memorial costs. 

Click here to donate to the GoFundMe. 

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