Two young men — one from Lake Ariel and one from South Carolina — were killed Friday when the vehicle they were in struck a utility pole in Salem Twp.
Wayne County Chief Deputy Coroner Mark James pronounced Kyle J. Babernitsh, 20, of Beaufort, South Carolina, dead at the scene of the crash just before 7:30 a.m. Friday, according to a news release from the coroner’s office.
Babernitsh was operating an SUV when it left the road at the intersection of Route 590 and Mellon Road and hit the pole.
First responders transported a passenger, Austin Galovic, 22, of Lake Ariel, to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, where he was declared dead from traumatic injuries shortly after arrival at 8:15 a.m., Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland said.
An autopsy on Babernitsh is scheduled for Monday. The Wayne County coroner’s office and state police in Honesdale are investigating the crash.