Crash injures 11, including homeless coming from community meal, in Fallsington

A two-vehicle accident Friday night in Fallsington left 11 injured and the nonprofit that provides for the needs of Lower Bucks County's homeless population in dire need as the Code Blue season is set to begin soon.

Six homeless people and five others were transported to area hospitals after the accident at Tyburn and New Falls roads. A van, operated by the Advocates for the Homelss and Those in Need, left St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lower Makefield after a community meal.

The van, a bus and a smaller vehicle are used by AHTN to transport the homeless to 12 area houses of worship for meals every day of the year or to bring meals to four sites in Lower Bucks County.

Thirty-five houses of worship sites and other organizations work together to provide the nightly meals to the homeless and others in need. Starting Dec. 1, the AHTN will coordinate with the county's winter Code Blue emergency overnight housing for the homeless when temperatures drop into the low to mid 20s.

The loss of the van is a concern, officials said.

AHTN Executive Director Karen Mineo said the van was damaged in the crash and she would be talking with the AHTN insurance adjuster. "We hope we can rent a 15-passenger van to get back on the road," she said, while the van involved in the accident is appraised.

Police said Sunday that a Toyota Highlander operated by a 53-year-old woman from Levittown was found by responding officers "stopped in the middle of the intersection with significant front end damage and multiple airbag deployment at approximately 6:52 p.m. Friday. "

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The van, a 2017 Ford Transit 350 van, operated by a 77-year-old woman from Levittown, is owned by the AHTN. It was found in the tree line on New Falls Road.

Falls Police said "the preliminary investigation determined that the transport van was in the right lane traveling through the intersection when it was struck by the Toyota which was attempting to complete a left-turn onto New Falls Road. "

Falls Police said Sunday that after speaking with hospital personnel Saturday, they didn't believe there would be any fatalities from the accident.

Mineo said Monday morning there were 13 homeless guests as well as the driver and a volunteer attendant in the van and all except one person were accounted for.

That person may have walked away from the scene.

The driver, volunteer attendant and six homeless people from the van were taken to the hospitals and were treated and released, she said. She said all the homeless live in tent or other encampments or in their vehicles. Some use the van because they don't want to waste their gas getting to the houses of worship for the meals.

AHTN will check in on and try to help anyone in the encampments who needs help recovering from their injuries, Mineo said.

Alcohol, drugs or a medical emergency are not believed to be factors in the accident, police said.

Police ask anyone with information on the accident to contact either of the assigned investigators, Cpl. Alexander Sansone and Police Officer Matthee Shannon, at 215-328-8501, or via email at a.sansone@fallstwppd.com or m.shannon@fallstwppd.com or anonymously via email at tiplines@fallstwppd.com.

Reporter JD Mullane contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Falls crash leaves 11 injured, Bucks County group without van