Probe into fatal accident continues, yields nothing

By JAMES KWASNICK
and SCOTT PERRY
Collegian Staff Writers

No further information has been uncovered about an accident Sunday night that killed one University student and injured another, Cpl. Duane Musser of the State College Police Department said.

One University student died and another student was hospitalized as the result of a one-vehicle accident on the west-bound lanes of the Mount Nittany Expressway, about one-half mile east of state Route 26, the State College police said.

The passenger, Mark E. Snavely, 21, of Lancaster, was thrown from the vehicle and transported to Centre Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:05 p.m., police said.

The driver, David M. De Marco, 20, of Lancaster, is listed in serious but stable condition at the hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Musser said toxicology reports on the driver have not been completed and that the reports may take some time. No criminal charges have been filed against De Marco yet, Musser said. He added that while there is a chance of charges in any situation like this, all the information must come in before any decisions are made.

Preliminary information indicated that the vehicle was traveling west in the left lane when it spun out of control at about 8 p.m. Sunday. The vehicle then crossed over the right lane and off the roadway where it ran into an embankment and proceeded to roll several times, Musser said.

The vehicle contents, which included personal belongings of the two occupants, were littered all over the accident scene, Musser said.

The State College police, the Alpha Fire Company, the Centre County Coroner Kerry Benninghoff and the Alpha Ambulance Service were at the scene of the incident dealing with the accident, Musser said. He added that the Boalsburg Fire Company assisted by controlling traffic around the scene.

Police and Benninghoff are continuing the investigation.