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BLOODSHED IN BERWICK: Driver plows into small-town fundraiser killing 1 before murdering another with HAMMER

The fundraiser was being held for the families of 10 people who died in a house fire recently

BERWICK, PENNSYLVANIA: One person died and at least 17 people were injured after a car plowed into a fundraiser event in Pennsylvania. The fundraiser was being held for the families of 10 people who died in a house fire recently. The crash occurred at around 6:30 pm on Saturday, August 13, at a restaurant called Intoxicology Department in Berwick. At the time, it was hosting a day-long event to raise money for the families of the people who were killed in the fire.

NBC Philadelphia confirmed that the suspect is thought to have fatally attacked a woman in neighboring Luzerne County. Those who were injured in the crash are receiving medical care at Geisinger Medical Center, WNEP-TV reported. "There is no indication that the incident in Berwick tonight was related to the event being held at Intoxicology Department," Berwick's borough government said in a statement. "After speaking with law enforcement at the scene, there is no ongoing threat to the public. A full briefing will be coming from Pennsylvania State Police shortly." The driver is reportedly in custody.

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News Anchor and Founder of Agenga Free Steve Lookner tweeted that one person was dead due to the crash. He also said that the suspect, a man, then drove to Nescopeck and beat a woman to death with a hammer. "1 dead, 17 injured after man drives car into a crowd at a fundraiser in Berwick, PA. Man then drove to Nescopeck, PA and beat a woman to death (scanner traffic said with a hammer). Man is now in custody," Lookner tweeted.

In another tweet, Lookner said the car sped off and was involved in a second accident in Nescopeck. "Car that plowed into fundraiser in Berwick, PA reportedly sped off and got into second accident in Nescopeck, PA. "The Berwick incident and the second crash are [reportedly] connected to a homicide that also occurred Saturday in Nescopeck"," he wrote. However, MEAWW could not independently verify Lookner's claims about a hammer being used in the murder.

PA Homepage reported that the areas around Center Street in Berwick were shut down following the incident. Intoxicology Department said in a statement on Facebook, "Today was an absolute tragedy. We will be closed until further notice. Please respect our privacy while we grieve and try to process the events that occurred. Thank you."

A deadly fire ravaged a Pennsylvania house, killing 10 people, including three children, on August 5, 2022. All the victims were members of the same family and were related to a volunteer fireman who responded to the blaze. State police confirmed that the Nescopeck blaze killed three children, aged 5, 6, and 7, and seven adults. Three others managed to escape the horror.

The house fire may have started on the front porch of the Nescopeck home, according to an official. Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said that as per a preliminary investigation, the blaze erupted on the porch around 2:30 am on Friday. “The information I have is that the fire started and progressed very quickly, making it very difficult to get out,” he said. The victims were members of firefighter Harold Baker's family.

Nescopeck volunteer firefighter Harold Baker said that the victims included his son, daughter, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, three grandchildren, and two other relatives. “When we turned the corner up here on Dewey [Street] I knew right away what house it was just by looking down the street,” Baker told The Citizens’ Voice. “I was on the first engine, and when we pulled up, the whole place was fully involved. We tried to get into them.”

Thirteen dogs were in the home when the blaze engulfed it, Baker told WNEP, but it is unclear if any of them survived. “The kids that were there and my two kids were just visiting their aunt and uncle. Those were the ones who own the house. They were there visiting and going into the pool and all that,” Baker said. 

Among the victims were Dale Baker, 19; Star Baker, 22; David Daubert Sr, 79; Brian Daubert, 42; Shannon Daubert, 45; Laura Daubert, 47; and Marian Slusser, 54. “All I wanted to do was go in there and get to these people, my family. That’s all that I was thinking about, getting in to them,” Baker told the Associated Press. Pennsylvania State Police Lt Derek Felsman said that a “complex criminal investigation” was underway, according to New York Post.