Erik Jensen, Kirsten Ehmry Killed in Auto Accident on Lisburn Rd in Monroe Township, PA
Monroe Township, PA — November 28, 2022, 39-year-old Erik Jensen and 28-year-old Kirsten Ehmry died in a collision with an 18-wheeler in Cumberland County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 6:30 a.m. on West Lisburn Road in Monroe Township. Preliminary investigation suggests Jensen was driving along the roadway at alleged high speeds when he lost control in a curve. His vehicle slid sideways across the center line and collided with a tractor-trailer headed the opposite direction.
Jensen and his passenger Ehmry were pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Erik Jensen, Kirsten Ehmry Accident in Monroe Twp
Investigators seem to believe the victim crossed left of center, possibly after losing control while speeding. Some may accept that without question, but keep in mind that preliminary reports aren't really the gospel truth they're sometimes thought to be. They're a starting point for further investigation and shouldn't be taken as the whole truth.
I worked on a similar case not long ago where police said a victim crossed the center line before fatally colliding with an 18-wheeler. We looked more closely and found the victim was only in the oncoming lane to escape the truck, which crossed over first and then swerved back when its driver woke up from a nap at the wheel to the sound of the victim's honking horn. Police decided what happened based on where they found the vehicles when they arrived, and the only witness was the sleepy trucker who didn't correct them.
I'm not saying the Monroe Township crash is like that incident. Even if investigators are certain about the victim crossing over, though, there's still the pressing question of why. Speeding was cited as a potential factor, but what if there's more to the story? Could the victims' vehicle have blown a tire, or had a mechanical failure? Was the victim in good health? What were road, light, and weather conditions like? Those and many other details must be clarified before anyone can really say what happened out there.
The takeaway here should be that things aren't always as clear-cut as a few sentences in the news make them seem. That's why I often suggest working with independent accident reconstruction experts who can devote the proper time and care to finding all the facts, rather than putting all one's faith in a "good enough" explanation from law enforcement. The victims' loved ones deserve to know no stone was left unturned in pursuit of the whole truth.
