Coroner identifies two Centre County residents killed in car crash near Philipsburg

Two Centre County residents died in a three-vehicle crash on U.S. Route 322 near Philipsburg on Wednesday, according to the Centre County Coroner’s Office.

Craig W. Hockinson, 61, of Port Matilda, and Heather L. Ryder, 35, of Philipsburg, died in the crash at about 2:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of Port Matilda Highway in Rush Township, wrote Deputy Coroner JD Kubalak.

One autopsy was performed on Thursday, the other is scheduled for Friday.

Hockinson and Ryder were the drivers of two vehicles involved in a head-on collision and were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of a third vehicle, who was unable to avoid the first crash, was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Route 322 was closed between Port Matilda and Philipsburg until about 6 p.m.