PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP --   A 13 year old boy and his step mother are dead after a two vehicle crash in Providence Township near Pole Cat Hollow Saturday. Six more were injured. The crash occurred at 4:20 p.m. near Route 272 and Mount Airy Road.

 

The collision occurred when Jose Ortiz, 30 of Manheim Township, was traveling northbound on Route 272 in a 1994 Ford Taurus. Mary Lou Hohenwarter, 63 of Holtwood, was traveling south bound on Route 272 in a 2002 Dodge Caravan. Ortiz lost control and travelled into the southbound lane directly in Hohenwarter's path. The Taurus struck the Dodge head on.

 

No one in the Taurus was properly restrained. The front seat passenger, Ginger Watson, 27 of Manheim Township, was ejected upon impact. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Robert Good. Ortiz' 13 year-old son, a Manheim Township Middle School student, was transported to Lancaster General Hospital where he subsequently died due to injuries sustained in the collision.

 

Ortiz and three other minor children were treated at Lancaster General Hospital. The two girls are nine and seven. The son is seven. Ortiz' five-year-old son suffered a severe head injury and is being treated at Hershey Medical Center. None of the Ortiz family members were properly restrained. Hohenwarter also suffered severe injury despite wearing a seat belt. She was treated at Lancaster General Hospital.

 

Cpl. Steven Ward, Troop J, CARS Unit re-constructed the collision scene, according to Tpr. Holloway. The road was closed for five hours. No charges have been filed at this time however the investigation is ongoing. Firefighters and ambulance personnel from five different houses were called out to the scene.