In Memory Of: Julian V. Wahly - PA - 04.03.03

[TowForce]

Julian V. Wahly 1943 - 2003
Julian was born on October 18, 1943.

Julian passed away on Wednesday April 30, 2003.

______________________________________________________________________

May 1, 2003

Riverside man killed in Route 54 accident

By Carmen Mauriello
The Daily Item

DANVILLE - A tow truck driver was struck by a logging truck and killed Wednesday afternoon while hooking up another vehicle to be towed on Route 54, state police said. Police are still looking for the driver of the car they say caused the accident. Julian V. Wahly, 59, of Danville, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:15 p.m., about 15 minutes after the accident, by Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn. Lynn said Wahly died of multiple blunt force injuries.

Wahly was kneeling to hook up a disabled Chevrolet sedan that was partially in the left lane of Route 54 east and partially on the median, authorities said.

Police said a silver two-door vehicle was at a stop sign on Route 8002 at the intersection with Route 54 in Valley Township. Police said the car pulled onto Route 54 east and then made an abrupt U-turn into the path of an eastbound logging truck, driven by Ralph Thomas, 60, of Lewisburg.

Police said Thomas swerved left to avoid the car but then lost control of his vehicle and struck Wahly, his tow truck and the Chevrolet he was towing. Thomas was not injured, police said.

The silver car fled the accident scene, and state police at Milton are searching for its driver. Anyone with information should call police at 524-2662.

Lynn said Route 54 east and west were down to a single lane of traffic for more than four hours. State police were on scene reconstructing the accident until about 8 p.m.

Assisting at the scene were the state Department of Transportation, the Valley Township and Liberty fire departments, Danville Ambulance and Danville fire police.

 

 

May 2, 2003

Reward offered in fatal accident

By Carl Boyer
The Daily Item

DANVILLE - State police at Milton are continuing to search for a silver car blamed for a fatal accident along Route 54 Wednesday afternoon, and a Danville man is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver of that vehicle.

Police said Julian V. Wahly, 59, of Valley Township, Montour County, owner of Central Towing, Riverside, was killed when a logging truck veered off the road to avoid a collision with the silver car and slammed into Wahly.

Police said the accident occurred around 2 p.m., just south of Interstate 80 on Route 54.

After the collision, the silver car fled the scene, police said.

Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn pronounced Wahly dead at the scene.

Jeff Dietz is offering a $1,000 reward for information about the two-door silver vehicle, which police believe caused the accident.

"I've known Julian since I was kid," said Dietz. "He was a kind man. He was always helping others. This is a tragedy. How do you say goodbye to a man like that? How do you honor his memory? I want police to capture the driver who caused this death."

Dietz said anyone with information about the silver car should call Milton state police at 524-2662.

Trooper Joseph Dubosky of the Milton state police is investigating the accident.

Dubosky said state troopers are only acting as the investigative contact for the reward. "We're not offering the money," he said. "That's coming from a private source."

Dubosky said Wahly was kneeling to hook up a disabled Chevrolet sedan that was partially in the left lane of Route 54 east and partially on the median. The silver vehicle was at a stop sign on Route 8002 at the intersection with Route 54, he said.

The car pulled onto Route 54 east and then made an abrupt U-turn into the path of an eastbound logging truck, operated by Ralph Thomas, 60, of Lewisburg.

Thomas veered left to avoid the car, then lost control of his vehicle and struck Wahly, his tow truck and the Chevrolet Wahly was about to tow. Dubosky said Thomas was not injured.

The 1989 Chevrolet that was to be towed was owned by Donna Pauling of Muncy.

Dubosky said the driver of the silver car that fled the scene may be guilty of negligence but he stressed that any charges would be determined by the Montour County district attorney at a later time.

Vehicular homicide is a possible charge, police said, though it's unlikely at this point because gross negligence must apply for that charge to be made.

"From what we know so far," said Dubosky, "this appears to be a negligent act but it may not constitute gross negligence."

Montour County District Attorney Robert Buehner said Thursday that gross negligence is difficult to prove. He said it's too early to tell if such a charge would apply in this case.

"It's too soon to say anything for sure," Buehner said. "We're not even sure if the driver of the silver car knew there was an accident. It would be very difficult to prove gross negligence."

However, Buehner did not rule out such a charge. He said that decision would be made if and when police apprehend the driver of the silver vehicle.

Meanwhile, two area fire chiefs who worked with Wahly recalled his dedication.

They said Wahly was familiar to them from their work at accident scenes.

Danville Fire Chief Ken Strausser said Wahly was dependable and always available when called upon.

"I knew him on a work-related basis," said Strausser. "He would always go out of his way to help the fire department. It's a shame to see something like this. He'll definitely be missed."

Todd Oberdorf, South Side fire chief, had similar sentiments.

"He was a reliable man," said Oberdorf. "He worked with us on numerous accidents. He's going to be missed. In all kinds of weather, Wahly was there when you needed him."

Graveside services for Wahly will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Danville. A gathering will also be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Washies Fire Company, Railroad Street, Danville, in memory of Wahly.

 

There are No Active News LInks