Professional race car driver Kasey Kahne sent a message on social media Wednesday recognizing the other rescuers who helped after a fiery head-on crash Saturday night in Dauphin County that killed two men.
Kahne, a former NASCAR driver who was in town for a World of Outlaws race, was among the first to stop at the 10:38 p.m. crash on Route 322 about three-quarters of a mile west of Mountain Road in Middle Paxton Township.
Kahne had been competing in a World of Outlaws race at the Port Royal Speedway that night and was on his way home when he encountered the mangled pickup trucks locked together against a concrete jersey barrier amid smoke and fire.
A wrong-way driver had been traveling at least six miles against opposing traffic before he slammed into a pickup truck pulling a camper. The truck with the camper was carrying a couple who had also just left the Port Royal track after watching the races.
Kahne was one of two people who grabbed fire extinguishers to help keep the flames at bay as other passers-by broke windows and pulled out two drivers and a passenger.
“There was a tragic car accident on our way home from the races Saturday night,” Kahne posted from his Twitter account at about 4 p.m. Wednesday, the same day PennLive published an article about his participation in the rescue. “I just wanted to recognize all of the people who jumped in to help as quick as they possibly could until first responders arrived. My thoughts and prayers are with the families involved.”
The wrong-way driver, Michael Hoy, 64, of Daytona Beach, Florida, died at the hospital after the crash. It remains unclear why or exactly where he got onto the separated highway going westbound in the eastbound lanes.
On Tuesday, police confirmed the second driver, 65-year-old Randy L. Deibelbi of Fleetwood, Berks County, also died. The passenger in his vehicle remains in the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Kahne’s tweet had been retweeted 2,000 times within three hours Wednesday. Dozens of Kahne’s 963,000 followers on Twitter responded to him after he shared his message.
“Praying for you all, we were slightly ahead on that highway,” one follower wrote. “It has been weighing so heavily on my heart everyday.
Another said: “I read the article and it was such an unselfish act by all who stopped to help. Prayers to those that didn’t make it. Thank you Kasey for being who you are and one of the unselfish. I’m a forever fan.”
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