FNN Article © Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
KNOXVILLE PA – Early Tuesday morning, April 7, 2026, the Tioga County 911 Dispatch Center received a call from the Walker residence about an accident where a vehicle had crashed into the river around 12:54 AM.
The caller was awaken by the sound of the accident followed by a what was believed as gunshot(s).
Knoxville-Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department along with Cray Hose Company out Westfield and an ambulance from Sabinsville were dispatched around 12:56 AM.
Pennsylvania State Police had also been notified to quicken their response due the possible shot(s) being fired and having a vehicle with unknown number of occupants possibly trapped and injured in the vehicle that had had crashed into the river.
Knoxville Fire Chief 6-20 arrived in the area of 210 Seeley Street at 1:03 AM and confirmed that one vehicle was sitting in the middle of the river.
Although there was a Pennsylvania State Police unit in the area, that one could not leave a previous incident to respond to the present situation at that time. All responding fire and EMS units were then advised to stage at Knoxville fire station out of caution due to the report of gunfire.
By 1:12 AM Elkland Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue and boat was requested to respond, as they would be needed to access the vehicle in the water.
It was reported that Pennsylvania State Police may have staged a few few streets away from the accident scene and walk in just as a safety measure when they arrived in the area at 1:30 AM. State Police met up with Knoxville fire personnel at the intersection of Seeley Street and Alba Street before proceeding into the incident scene.
Elkland fire crews along with their boat arrived in Knoxville just after 1:30 AM. It would be approximately one hour later, before the boat, two recue swimmers and two State Troopers went out on the water and headed to the pickup truck sitting in the middle of the river.
By 2:29 AM all individuals that had headed out to the truck to check out the situation of the truck in the water were reported out of the water. There was no report of what police or rescuers found. However, Crary Hose personnel and Sabinsville ambulance were cleared from the incident around 2:40 AM.
Oddly enough a long silence would follow from 2:49 AM until 4:15 AM, with none of the fire crews or Knoxville Command saying anything over the airways. Even the 15 minute timer that 911 runs was not noted during those quiet hours. Finally the silence during this incident was broken at 4:15 AM when Knoxville fire personnel terminated command as both Knoxville and Elkland’s rescue boat crew were cleared to return to their stations. The scene was turned over to Pennsylvania State Police as fire units headed out. The pickup truck was left in the water overnight.
Around 5:00 AM the Knoxville-Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department posted the following notice on their Facebook page – Our department and mutual aid was dispatched and assisted with operations during the incident that occurred in our community.
At this time, there is no ongoing threat to the public, and it is safe to be out in town. There is currently a vehicle in the river, and 911 is aware.
We ask residents to avoid the area and allow law enforcement and the appropriate authorities to continue operations.
If FNN receives any updates or images they will be added to this article.
Remember to support your local fire and ambulance departments in 2026.
