NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
21 June 2004

WOMAN CHARGED WITH DUI HOMICIDE IN FATAL FRONT STREET CRASH

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that 21-year old Melissa D. Cummings, of Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, faces numerous charges in connection with last evening’s fatal traffic accident on South Front Street. Killed instantly in the crash was 55-year old Jack Hynen, of Clinton Street in Harrisburg.

Reed said Cummings faces seven charges in connection with the incident, including Homicide by Vehicle while DUI, Homicide by Vehicle, DUI-Highest Tier, DUI, Reckless Driving, Driving at Unsafe Speed and Failure to Observe Traffic Signals. She has been remanded to Dauphin County Prison on no bail.

The Mayor said the incident occurred shortly after 8:30 p.m. last evening. Hynen and an associate were parked in the parking lane on the east side of South Front Street near Chestnut Street, where they were loading their dogs into their vehicle after using Riverfront Park. Cummings, driving a 1998 Chrysler Sebring, was in downtown heading west on Walnut Street at a high rate of speed. She ran a red light at Front and Walnut Streets, causing numerous vehicles to brake and swerve to avoid hitting her. She was proceeding south on Front Street at a speed estimated at in excess of sixty miles an hour when she lost control of her vehicle, swerved into the parking lane, and slammed into the rear of the victims’ parked Honda. Hynen was crushed between the two vehicles and likely died instantly. His associate was uninjured in the crash.

Responding emergency crews initially believed they would have to extricate Cummings from the wreckage, but she was able to crawl out of the smashed vehicle under her own power. Cummings was uninjured in the accident except for minor scrapes and bruises. Her blood alcohol level was believed to be nearly twice the legal limit.

Police continue to look for and are asking the public’s assistance in locating Hynen’s Black Labrador Retriever who was last seen running north in Riverfront Park following the accident. Anyone who locates the animal is asked to call Harrisburg Police at 255.3131.

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