Pickup Slams Into Cleona Chief’s Cruiser Before Crashing Into Home: PA State Police

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A pickup truck crashed into the Cleona Borough Chief of Police’s cruiser before slamming into a nearby home in Cleona Borough on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 19, Pennsylvania State Police said.

The crash happened just after noon in the 500 block of West Penn Avenue/Route 422 near North Mill Street, according to emergency dispatchers. Crews were sent around 12:19 p.m. for reports of a crash with someone possibly trapped, and EMS arrived immediately, officials said.

PSP Jonestown investigators confirmed the police vehicle involved belonged to Cleona Borough Chief of Police Jeffrey J. Farneski, 64, of Lebanon. According to the release, Chief Farneski was legally parked on the right shoulder of US-422 when the collision occurred.

The PSP crash report states that Robert L. VanAken, 74, of Lebanon, was driving a 2018 Ram pickup eastbound on West Penn Avenue when he failed to maintain his lane, drifted onto the eastbound shoulder, and rear-ended the Chief’s cruiser. The impact forced the cruiser forward 40 to 50 feet. VanAken’s pickup then struck a second vehicle’s rear bumper before veering off the roadway.

The truck continued through the area and crashed into a house at 522 West Penn Avenue, where it came to rest, according to PSP’s crash synopsis. Footage from the scene showed the police cruiser with severe rear-end damage and the red pickup lodged against the home’s exterior.

Route 422 was closed for the investigation, but has since reopened.

Both VanAken and Chief Farneski were taken to Hershey Medical Center with injuries of unknown severity, PSP said. Life Lion EMS, First Aid & Safety Patrol, Annville Cleona Fire Department, and Cleona Fire Company assisted at the scene.

It is still unclear what caused the crash, and the investigation remains active.