Schuylkill woman identified as victim of Highway 422 crash in Exeter

A Schuylkill County woman was killed when her car was struck by the rear of a tractor-trailer on Route 422 in Exeter Township, police said Thursday.

Kellyann Gemmell, 52, of Minersville, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by a member of the Berks County Coroner's Office, Exeter police said.

The crash happened around 1:40 p.m. in the westbound lanes of Route 422, also known as the Benjamin Franklin Highway, in Exeter Township at Daniel Boone Road.

Westbound lanes were closed for more than four hours between Route 345 and Daniel Boone Road while police investigated.

Lt. Sean Fullerton said the preliminary investigation showed the sedan had been stopped at a red light on Daniel Boone Road when it was struck from behind by the 18-wheeler.

A passenger in the car was taken to Reading Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries, he said.

Police have not released the name of the truck driver, who was not injured, because the investigation is ongoing.

Gemmell was the 21st person to die this year as a result of motor vehicle accidents on Berks roads.