ELYSBURG — A two-vehicle crash late Saturday on an icy stretch of Route 54 near here sent 10 people to the hospital, including two young children who were critically hurt, Ralpho Township police said.

A 2000 Nissan Quest with four people inside was headed east on the road – just east of Woodruff's farm – when it fishtailed on an icy patch of road and slid into the path of a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban carrying six around 10:20 p.m. The Suburban struck the Quest hard on its passenger side, ejecting front-seat passenger, Victor Colon-Negron, police said.

It also critically injured a 2-year-old girl and 9-month-old boy who were riding in the Nissan. All are from the Lebanon area.

The youngsters are patients at Geisinger’s Children Hospital while Victor Colon-Negron, whose age was not available, was admitted to adult intensive care at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, a nursing supervisor said on Sunday.

Five passengers riding in the Chevrolet Suburban from the Danville area were treated and released at Geisinger, as was the driver, 22-year-old Nicholas Bennett of Doylestown, according to a nursing supervisor. Those passengers were Rodger Wintersteen, 58; Gina Bross, 56; Tierney Bross, 27; Siobhan Bross, 25; and Michael Bross, 21, police said.

The accident prompted a large emergency response by medical units and fire volunteers from Northumberland County. 

Assisting were Elysburg ambulance and firefighters, Overlook Fire Company and emergency medical teams from Sunbury and Danville.

Leon Bogdan can be reached at 570-784-2121, extension 1307, or by email at leon.bogdan@pressenterprise.net.