Trending Topics

Coroner: Pa. woman in ambulance did not die from crash

By Elizabeth Evans
The York Dispatch (Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2007 York Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

A Gettysburg woman pronounced dead in the back of a Biglerville ambulance after the rig was involved in a crash in West Manchester Township on Jan. 23 was not killed in the accident.

The York County Coroner’s Office announced yesterday that Fawn Sova, 42, died of natural causes -- specifically, heart disease.

A Biglerville Fire Co. ambulance was rushing Sova from Gettysburg Hospital to York Hospital when it collided with a car at the intersection Route 30 and Route 616 at 9:47 a.m., police said.

Witnesses reported the ambulance did not have the green light, but did have its lights and siren activated, police have said.

The ambulance collided with a northbound Chevrolet Impala SS driven by Keith Langford, 43, of Glen Rock.

Langford and several ambulance crew members and Gettysburg Hospital employees were hurt, but all escaped serious injury, police said.

York County Deputy Coroner Claude Stabley has said Sova was being transported for surgery after she suffered a ruptured aorta during a cardiac procedure at Gettysburg Hospital.

West Manchester Township Police Chief Arthur Smith Jr. said the investigation remains open at this point.

“Josh Sefchick is the investigating officer,” he said. “Due to training, he is unavailable for two weeks. Upon his return, he will evaluate the coroner’s report and attempt to close his investigation at that time.”