WASHINGTON BORO, PA — A woman died early Thursday after two vehicles went into the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County, according to Manor Township Police Chief Colin Cleary. The crash happened around 2:25 a.m. near Water Street and Charlestown Road in Washington Boro. Officers arriving at the scene found a white BMW SUV and a blue Chrysler sedan submerged in the river. Police said one woman died at the scene, and her identity had not been released at the time of the report.
Investigators said they believe both vehicles were speeding west on Charlestown Road before the crash. It was not immediately clear whether anyone else was hurt. The vehicles were later pulled from the water, and a stretch of Water Street was closed for an extended period before reopening.
Crash Scene And Recovery
Photos and drone video from the scene showed one vehicle in the river and the other pulled up onto railroad tracks near the water. Police said the crash site involved a difficult recovery effort because one car was submerged while the other came to rest off the roadway. The incident drew a response from local officers and prompted an active investigation into how the vehicles entered the river.
Authorities have not said what led up to the crash beyond the preliminary belief that speed played a role. No additional details about the woman who died were released in the initial update. Police said the case remains open as investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events from the early morning hours.
Police Want Witnesses
The Manor Township Police Department said it is trying to identify and speak with three people seen in surveillance video near the crash area. Chief Cleary said investigators believe the three may know important details about what happened. He said police want to hear from anyone who can help explain the events before the vehicles entered the river.
The department asked the public to contact investigators if they recognize the people in the footage or have other information about the wreck. Police said the number to call is 717-299-5231. The request suggests investigators are still working to build a fuller picture of the crash from witnesses, video, and physical evidence gathered at the scene.
Neighbors React To Scene
Residents in the area said the crash was unsettling because the road leads toward the river and is familiar to local neighbors. Angelia Graham, who said she has lived there her whole life, told WGAL she did not recognize the people shown in the security footage. Her comments reflected the confusion many nearby residents felt after learning that two vehicles had sped toward the water in the middle of the night.
Graham said it was hard to understand why anyone would drive that fast on that road. The crash also briefly affected the railroad corridor near the river, where Norfolk Southern said train traffic was placed on hold. The company said service resumed around 9:30 a.m. after the temporary disruption.
Investigation Remains Open
Police said the crash remains under active investigation as they continue to review what happened before the vehicles entered the Susquehanna River. The scene has already been cleared, and the roadway has reopened, but officials have not said whether charges are expected. The coroner has since released the woman’s identity and cause of death, though those details were not included in the initial report.
For now, investigators are focused on finding the three people seen on surveillance video and speaking with anyone else who may have observed the vehicles or the moments before the crash. Police said even small details could matter as they work to understand the fatal sequence of events. WGAL said it was continuing to gather information about the case.