DENNISVILLE — A 19-year-old Holmes, Pa., resident, David Paytas Jr., remains hospitalized at Cooper University Trauma Center in Camden almost three weeks after he was involved in a fatal accident on Route 47 at mile marker 18.5. The accident claimed the life of his girlfriend of five years, Katelyn Mariana, 18, of Ridley Park, Pa. on Aug.10.
According to N.J. State Police, Paytas was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Impala SS southbound on Route 47. For an unknown reason, he crossed over into the northbound lane of traffic.
A 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Randy Dougherty, 37, of Mullica Hill was traveling northbound, and struck the Impala on the passenger’s side. The Impala then struck a guardrail on the northbound shoulder.
Dougherty and his four passengers were transported to Cape Regional Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Paytas suffered catastrophic injuries. His father, David Paytas Sr. told the Herald his son is in Cooper’s “step down intesive care unit.” Paytas Jr. sustained a traumatic brain injury and a broken neck among multiple other fractures in the crash. “He’s beginning to open his eyes and responds to commands on a fairly consistent basis but has not completely woken up.” said Paytas Sr.
The father “desperately” wants to find the cause of his son’s accident, and is concerned it may have been preventable. Residents who live in the area told Paytas Sr. numerous accidents repeatedly occur around the curve and along other parts of Route 47.
Around the time of the accident, the region experienced a severe thunderstorm with torrential rain at times. The elder Paytas theorizes his son may have either lost control in the rain around the curve and hydroplaned into oncoming traffic or came around the curve and found traffic backed up from the traffic light at CR-610, and was unable to stop in time and swerved onto oncoming traffic to avoid rear-ending the last vehicle in the line.
The Paytas family asks anyone who may have witnessed this accident to contact them at (610) 532-9396
The accident is under investigation by Trooper Gallaudet of the Woodbine Station. He is also asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact him at (609 ) 861-5698.
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