Troopers Say Phoenixville Woman Died in 422 Crash

Police confirmed that a 20-year-old Phoenixville woman was killed in the fatal accident that tied up traffic and closed Route 422 for several hours on Monday afternoon. 

According to WFMZ, the woman was identified as Danielle Nicole Schmitt-Luteman, 20, and the other occupant was Michael Taylor, 23, of Collegeville. Trooper Danae Durham of Pennsylvania State Police-Belmont confirmed that the woman was from Phoenixville and the male was from Collegeville, though the state police did not release the identities of the victims. 

Many details of the crash remain unclear, and state police are still investigating.

"We're still unsure who was driving," Durham said. 

Taylor was flown to Hahnemann Hospital, according to Durham, and WFMZ reports that he is listed in fair condition. 

The blue Toyota Corolla that Schmitt-Luteman and Taylor were in was the only vehicle invovled in the crash, which Durham said occurred at approximately 2:50 p.m. on westbound Route 422 near the Oaks exit. Durham said the road was closed for approximately two to three hours, snarling the rush hour commute home for many in the area. 

A Royersford man who was fourth on the scene and helped pick up debris from the roadway didn't witness the crash but noted that he found an unusual scene when he stopped.

He said the woman appeared to be dead when he stopped and he noted that the male was very distraught and bleeding from cuts.

"The front of the vehicle was completely demolished, and there were no tires on the driver's side, but the engine was still running," the man reported. 

A page has been set up on Facebook in Schmitt-Luteman's memory.