Marine on leave for sister's wedding killed in car crash

Susquehanna crash victim was Marine, father of two 
The Times Tribune
BRENDAN GIBBONS, STAFF WRITER
Published: January 3, 2015

PHOTO COURTESY KARIN DORMAN Susquehanna County native Andrew Stevens with his sons Logan, top, and Hunter, and wife, Katy. Andrew Stevens was killed Friday in a crash in Springville Township.

A 27-year-old Susquehanna County native killed Friday when a water tanker truck smashed into his SUV was an active-duty Marine and father of two boys, a family member said.

Staff Sgt. Andrew Stevens was home for his sister’s wedding, his mother-in-law Karin Dorman said. Sgt. Stevens and his wife, Katy, 26, and their sons, 2-year-old Logan and 5-year-old Hunter, were staying at Mrs. Dorman’s.

After driving away from his parents’ home in Springville Twp. around 4:20 p.m., Sgt. Stevens stopped his 2013 Dodge Durango at Routes 3004 and 29, the main intersection in Springville, state police said.

Behind him, Arlan Elmer Elvis Taft’s truck barrelled downhill. Unable to stop, the Tioga man’s tanker crashed into Sgt. Steven’s Durango. A four-vehicle pile-up ensued as the SUV was crushed between Mr. Taft’s truck and a Kenworth tractor-trailer, which in turn hit another Kenworth rig.

A fire started after the crash, and flames engulfed Sgt. Stevens’ SUV, Mrs. Dorman said. Mr. Stevens died at the scene, state police said. The other three drivers were not injured.

The fire left the Durango’s vehicle identification number illegible, along with any other clue to identify Mr. Stevens, Mrs. Dorman said.

“The vehicle was unrecognizable,” she said. “It totally just went in flames.”

Troopers had to identify Sgt. Stevens by his father’s hunting rifle, she said. He had just picked it up before the crash. A deer with an injured leg frequented Mrs. Dorman’s property, and Sgt. Stevens wanted to put it out of its misery, then call a game officer, she said.
read more here