FNN Article Update © Wednesday, October 15, 2025. First 4 images posted by Middlebury Twp Vol. Fire Dept. Next 5 images posted by Knoxville-Deerfield Vol. Fire Company. Click on images to enlarge.
WESTFIELD, PA – On Wednesday afternoon, October 15, 2025, a serious crash occurred in the area of 3928 Route 249 in Chatham Township. The accident involved a dump truck loaded with gravel and a passenger vehicle with three family members inside.
Fire crews from Westfield, Little Marsh, Knoxville, Sabinsville, Tioga, Middlebury and Wellsboro responded around 12:18 PM.. Meanwhile several ambulances from Sabinsville and Wellsboro, as well as medic units were dispatched due to the large number of injured and trapped victims in the crash.
Fire personnel from Crary Hose Company out of Westfield arrived on scene by 12:23 PM and reported that the roadway was blocked. He also requested units and ambulances from other stations to assist. Minutes later the request was made for a total of three medical helicopters. LifeNet 7-7, Mercy Flight and LifeFlight 4 would all respond. Mercy Flight was released and that patient was transported by ambulance.
Route 249 was closed around 12:40 PM as PennDOT was requested to assist with traffic control. The detour was set up using Merrick Hill Road intersection and Bates Hill Road intersection allowing drivers to drive up around the crash scene.
FNN was able to confirm that a dump truck filled with gravel flipped over striking a black Ford Focus carrying three family members. The family and the truck driver were entrapped in their vehicles and each had to be extricated from the vehicles they were in.
White’s Towing was requested to respond with a rotator wrecker. A Rotator wrecker has a crane-like boom that can rotate a full 360 degrees allowing it to handle the most demanding recovery and towing jobs. Unlike standard wreckers, its rotational capability lets it work from various angles without repositioning the entire truck, making it ideal for difficult scenarios like lifting vehicles.
By 12:57 PM three entrapped individuals were freed by firefighters, the last individual was finally extricated at 1:06 PM. By that time, LifeNet 7-7 had already landed nearby at 1:03 PM.
By 1:16 PM a Sabinsville ambulance was heading out to UPMC Wellsboro Hospital with one of the patients and a few minutes later a Wellsboro ambulance was also en route to UPMC Wellsboro Hospital with a patient as well.
LifeNet 7-7 was airborne at 1:25 PM with one patient, that patient was flown to Geisinger Medical Center.
LifeFlight 4 landed at 1:32 PM and was airborne by 1:48 PM to Geisinger Medical Center with their patient.
Several fire departments were released to return back to their station once they were no longer needed at the scene.
FNN received word that the dump truck blew a tire which caused the driver to lose control of the dump truck, causing it to swerve, as it approached the black Ford Focus being driven by a 16-year-old male driver. That young driver who was traveling with his mother and sister, decided to stop. Then the unthinkable happened, the truck flipped over and dumped its load after the truck hit the driver’s side of the car.
Two victims were treated at UPMC Hospital in Wellsboro and the other victims were flown to Geisinger Medical Center for further evaluations and treatment.
It is unknow exactly when Route 249 was reopened, but traffic was moving through the area just after 5:00 PM.
According to the family, the family members in the car are doing well and the worst injury was a broken leg suffered by the sister. The family expressed their thanks to everyone who assisted at the scene and for all the prayers sent out to them.
According to Elizabeth Costley, her husband Andy Costley was transported by ambulance to UPMC Wellsboro Hospital after he was extricated from the dump truck. He was treated for a broken foot with dislocated toes, scrapes and lacerations on his back that needed some stitches. Mr. Costley was released that evening. The couple is extremely grateful for the quick response from all the emergency personnel that attended to everyone involved in this terrible accident.
“Only by the grace of God did this turn out the way it did'” stated Elizabeth Costley.
If FNN is still awaiting the release on the crash from Pennsylvania State Police. Once that comes in the information will be added to this article.
FNN wishes to point out the excellent job all the fire and EMS personnel did at this scene with the amazing assistance from the Tioga County 911 Center.
