Man dies after crashing car into tree in Perry County, troopers say
ABOUT IT. IT IS 430. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I’M MATT BARCARO I’M CAITLIN SMITH, JOINED BY CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRISTINE FERREIRA. I WENT OUTSIDE LAST NIGHT, A LITTLE AFTER FIVE I DID. I LOOKED UP AND ALL I SAW WERE CLOUDS. I DIDN’T KNOW NORTHERN LIGHTS FOR ME, NO NORTHERN LIGHTS IN THE EARLY PART OF THE EVENING, BUT SOME FOLKS DID SEE THEM LATER IN THE EVENING, SO IT WAS A TOUGH SELL THERE YESTERDAY. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE CLOUDS. LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT WE HAVE OUTSIDE THIS MORNING. RIGHT NOW THINGS ARE QUIET. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CLOUDS, ESPECIALLY ACROSS OUR NORTHEASTERN MOST COUNTIES. OTHERWISE IT IS CLEAR TO THE SOUTH AND WEST TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 40S RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE’VE HAD SOME CLOUDS OVERNIGHT. AND IN ADDITION, WE ALSO HAVE THAT BREEZE. SO WE’RE STILL BATTLING A BRISK BREEZE AT ABOUT 10 TO 20MPH. AND THAT WILL KEEP UP TODAY OUT OF THE NORTHWEST. OUR HIGH TODAY 52 DEGREES. LOOKING GOOD. WE’LL SEE. PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SHOULD BE A DRY ONE FOR US IN THE BREEZE WILL DIMINISH LATE. WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT WEEKEND SHOWERS COMING UP IN MY FULL FORECAST. THANK YOU CHRISTINE. WELL THIS MORNING, THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN U.S. HISTORY AND THE STATE BUDGET IMPASSE OF MORE THAN 130 DAYS HAVE BOTH COME TO AN END, AND BOTH SIGNED BY GOVERNOR SHAPIRO. OF COURSE, IN THE STATE AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IN THE U.S. SO THE SPENDING BILL FOR THE STATE IS $50.1 BILLION. THE STATE BUDGET IMPASSE FORCED ESSENTIAL WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTIES AND THE COMMONWEALTH TO TAP INTO RESERVES OR BORROW FUNDS TO TRY TO KEEP OPERATIONS GOING THAT INCLUDE DAUPHIN COUNTY, WHERE COMMISSIONERS THERE SAY THE OVERDUE STATE BUDGET COST THEM THOUSANDS. AT MINIMUM, IT’S COST US $400,000 IN INTEREST EARNINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD ON SAVINGS THAT WE’VE HAD TO DEPLOY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING THAT OUR EMPLOYEES GET PAID. NOW, COMMISSIONERS WERE GETTING READY TO OPEN A $15 MILLION CREDIT LINE TO PAY COUNTY EMPLOYEES, BUT THEY TABLED THAT RESOLUTION JUST HOURS BEFORE THE STATE BUDGET WAS PASSED. SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN DAUPHIN COUNTY ALSO FELT THE STING OF NOT HAVING STATE FUNDING FOR MONTHS. THE HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS IT LOST ALSO AROUND $400,000. BY THE TIME THE MONEY STARTS FLOWING, WE’VE ALREADY LOST THOSE MONTHS OF THAT BEING IN THE BANK THAT IS $400,000. WE WILL NEVER SEE BACK. THE DISTRICT SAYS. THAT IS MONEY. OF COURSE. YOU JUST SAW HER OR HEARD HER SAY THAT THEY CANNOT RECOUP, BUT IT EXPECTS $4 MILLION FOR BASIC EDUCATION FUNDING IN THE NEWLY PASSED BUDGET. AND IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR, NEWS EIGHT’S GABRIELLE THOMAS WILL BE LIVE WITH REACTION FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PA RURAL AND SMALL SCHOOLS WITH HOW THE FUNDING DELAY COULD IMPACT THIS SCHOOL YEAR. EVEN WITH THE BUDGET PASSED NOW. SO THAT SECOND SIGNING IS YESTERDAY, FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP TO REOPEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HIS SIGNATURE CAME SHORTLY AFTER THE HOUSE VOTED TO SEND HIM THAT BILL. DURING THE SIGNING, THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID HE’S WILLING TO WORK WITH BOTH PARTIES TO FIND A SOLUTION ON HEALTH CARE, THOUGH HE SAYS IT WOULD NOT INVOLVE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. SO I’M ALWAYS WILLING TO WORK WITH ANYONE, INCLUDING THE OTHER PARTY, WILL WORK ON SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH HEALTH CARE. WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER. WE CAN DO GREAT. SO MUCH MONEY IS INVOLVED AND WE’RE WILLING TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY TO THE PEOPLE. SO WE’RE GOING TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO THE PEOPLE. THEY’RE GOING TO GO OUT AND BUY THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE, AND WE’RE GOING TO FORGET THIS OBAMACARE MADNESS. WELL, ALL FOUR U.S. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN FROM THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE BILL TO REOPEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND WE ARE HEARING FROM SOME OF THEM WHO ARE BLAMING DEMOCRATS FOR THE SHUTDOWN. CONGRESSMAN LLOYD SMUCKER SENT US A STATEMENT SAYING, IN PART, THAT HISTORY WILL NOT BE KIND TO DEMOCRATS. AND ON X, CONGRESSMAN DAN MEUSER POSTED, IT’S TIME TO FIX THE DAMAGE. DEMOCRATS HAVE CAUSED. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, DEMOCRAT SUMMER LEE, WHO SERVES THE PITTSBURGH AREA, VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, ALSO POSTING ON X, QUOTE, I COULD NOT IN GOOD FAITH, SUPPORT CAPITULATING TO FALSE PROMISES THAT WILL HURT PEOPLE IN THE LONG RUN. FELLOW DEMOCRAT CHRISTY HOULIHAN, WHO COVERS CHESTER COUNTY AND PARTS OF BERKS COUNTY, ALSO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL. SHE ISSUED A STATEMENT AS WELL, SAYING I CANNOT SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT INTENTIONALLY HARMS THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, WHILE REWARDING BILLIONAIRES AND LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES. AND NOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS REOPENED, PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT WHEN THE MONEY WILL START FLOWING AGAIN. MORE SERVICES ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE WITH THE RETURN OF FURLOUGHED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, THEY’RE SET TO GET BACK PAY, AND SOME EXPERTS EXPECT THERE COULD BE AN ECONOMIC REBOUND AS WELL. FOR PEOPLE USING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SUBSIDIES, THOUGH THE REOPENING OF THE GOVERNMENT COULD MEAN THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS WILL MORE THAN DOUBLE AND EVEN GO BEYOND THAT. IN SOME CASES, THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED, AS WE MENTIONED, DOES NOT GUARANTEE AN EXTENSION OF THOSE EXPIRING HEALTH CARE SUBSIDIES. FLIGHT CUTS ARE ALSO NOW FROZEN AT 6%. IT’S NOT CLEAR WHEN FLIGHT SCHEDULES WILL RETURN TO NORMAL, THOUGH, AND SNAP BENEFITS, AS WE’VE BEEN COVERING, SHOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE AGAIN SOON. WELL, BOTH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN AND THE STATE BUDGET IMPASSE DID IMPACT THOSE WHO DO NEED HELP IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY BUYING FOOD HAVE THOSE SNAP BENEFITS. SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TO FEED PENNSYLVANIANS ARE CELEBRATING THE PASSAGE OF BOTH OF THOSE BUDGETS. THEY SAY IT’S BEEN A TOUGH TIME OVER THE PAST 135 DAYS WITHOUT A STATE BUDGET, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS ALSO BEING WITHHELD FOR PART OF THAT TIME. SO IN THE STATE BUDGET, THE FOOD PURCHASE PROGRAM DOES GET AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN $30 MILLION. AND ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT IS HUNGER FREE PENNSYLVANIA. IT SAYS THIS HAD NOT COME AT A BETTER TIME. IT SAYS IT’S SEEN HUNGER SURGE DUE TO HIGHER COSTS FOR FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIALS. AND OBVIOUSLY THOSE SNAP BENEFITS BEING SLASHED. BUT IT SAYS THE FIGHT AGAINST FOOD SECURITY, EVEN WITH THE BUDGET PASSED, IS NOT OVER. WHILE BUDGET IS PASSED AND THE INCREASES ARE IN PLACE. WE’RE CERTAINLY NOT OUT OF THE WOODS. THE SURGE IN DEMAND WITH RISING PRICES AND WITH UNCERTAINTY STILL IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS, OUR CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM IS MORE VITAL THAN EVER. AS FOR THAT EXTRA $30 MILLION HUNGER FREE, PENNSYLVANIA SAYS IT’S NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL GET ITS PART OF THAT MONEY. AND HAPPENING TODAY HACKS UNIONIZED FACULTY WILL CONTINUE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COLLEGE. THE TWO SIDES LAST TALKED TUESDAY NIGHT FOR MORE THAN SEVEN HOURS, AND WHILE AN AGREEMENT HASN’T BEEN REACHED, A UNION REPRESENTATIVE SAYS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WAS MADE. THE UNION SAYS IT’S HOPING TO REACH AN AGREEMENT AT TONIGHT’S MEETING. IT SAYS ITS MEMBERS HAVEN’T HAD A RAISE IN THREE YEARS, WHILE OTHERS HAVE. THE UNION IS ALSO ASKING THE COLLEGE FOR BACK PAY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND THE UNION REPRESENTING STARBUCKS BARISTAS HAS AUTHORIZED A STRIKE, AND UNIONIZED WORKERS COULD GO ON STRIKE. TODAY, IT SAYS STARBUCKS HAS NOT OFFERED A NEW PROPOSAL ADDRESSING WORKERS DEMANDS FOR MORE STAFFING AND HIGHER PAY. THERE ARE FOUR UNIONIZED STARBUCKS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. ALL OF THEM ARE IN LANCASTER COUNTY. THIS THREAT OF A STRIKE COMES AS STARBUCKS IS HOLDING ITS RED CUP DAY TODAY, LAUNCHING ITS WINTER THEMED DRINKS IN LANCASTER. THE CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY FOR AN AI DATA CENTER, BUT RESIDENTS IN LANCASTER STILL ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT, AND SOME ARE STILL SKEPTICAL ABOUT IT. THE DATA CENTERS, DEVELOPER TECHNOLOGY PARKS MET WITH THOSE RESIDENTS AT THE WARE CENTER LAST NIGHT TO GIVE THEM A SPACE TO COME TOGETHER AND MEET THEM AND ASK QUESTIONS, THE PROJECT MANAGERS CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PROJECT DESPITE SOME RESIDENTS CONTINUING TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS. SO FAR, PRETTY POSITIVE. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE SOME VERY GOOD QUESTIONS AND WE’RE HOPEFULLY ANSWERING THOSE IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER. I DON’T FEEL I’M GETTING SPECIFIC ANSWERS I’M ASKING ABOUT WHEN I BRING UP FOREVER CHEMICALS, WHICH IS IN THE NEWS FOR OTHER REASONS, HOW THEY ARE SHOWING UP IN THE SPACE OF DATA CENTERS. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT. AND THAT TO ME IS VERY CONCERNING. THE PROJECT ON GREENFIELD ROAD IS IN ITS FIRST PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT. IT’S EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED IN 2027. TH
Man dies after crashing car into tree in Perry County, troopers say
Updated: 4:56 AM EST Nov 13, 2025
A Perry County man died after crashing into a tree, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.Troopers said Kenneth Heffley Jr., 49, of Duncannon, was driving a Kia Forte when he crashed on Sulphur Springs Road, just north of Creek Road, in Wheatfield Township. It happened just before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, according to the report. State police said Heffley crossed the opposing lanes and struck a tree that was about eight feet from the roadway. Heffley was transported to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, according to police. Troopers said he later died from his injuries that night. According to the report, Heffley was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.
WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
A Perry County man died after crashing into a tree, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.
Troopers said Kenneth Heffley Jr., 49, of Duncannon, was driving a Kia Forte when he crashed on Sulphur Springs Road, just north of Creek Road, in Wheatfield Township.
It happened just before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, according to the report.
State police said Heffley crossed the opposing lanes and struck a tree that was about eight feet from the roadway.
Heffley was transported to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, according to police. Troopers said he later died from his injuries that night.
According to the report, Heffley was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating.
See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.