Pennsylvania State Police are continuing to investigate -- and charges are pending in -- a two-vehicle crash that occurred on Route 73/Skippack Pike in Skippack Township shortly before 3 p.m. Feb. 6.

Thomas Martin Shortall, 33, of Schwenksville was driving Subaru Forrester west on Skippack Pike when, as he reportedly told police at the scene, he fell asleep at the wheel and drifted to the right, striking a guide rail at 4533 Skippack Pike.

Shortall then traveled into the eastbound lane, colliding with a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Michael D. O'Callaghan, 42, of Schwenksville.

O'Callaghan suffered injuries, and Lower Frederick Regional Ambulance Corps transported him to Mercy Suburban Hospital.

Shortall, who was reportedly not wearing a seat belt, was also injured. His passenger, a 4-year-old girl, was seat-belted into a child seat and she suffered minor injuries, according to police. Skippack EMS took Shortall and the girl to Paoli Hospital.

The Skippack Fire Co. also responded to the crash.

Traffic initially drove around the scene, but that portion of Route 73 was eventually closed to traffic as the scene was investigated and cleared. A Pennsylvania Department of Corrections officer helped direct traffic; Harleysville Fire Police helped divert traffic as the road closed.

Previous version of the story:
A two-vehicle crash on Route 73/Skippack Pike in Skippack sent three people to area hospitals, Monday afternoon, Feb. 6.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, a man said he fell asleep at the wheel of a Subaru Forrester and drifted to the right shoulder of the road, striking a guardrail by John Black Livestock at 4533 Skippack Pike. The man apparently overcorrected his course and crossed into the eastbound lane, where the car collided with a black Silverado pickup. The two cars came to rest near the side of the eastbound lane.

The pickup's driver was the sole vehicle's sole occupant. A girl who appeared to be 3 or 4 years old was riding in the back of the Subaru. Everyone was conscious at the scene. Lower Frederick Regional Ambulance Corps and Skippack EMS transported the people from the scene.

The Skippack Fire Co. also responded to the crash.

Traffic initially drove around the scene, but that portion of Route 73 was eventually closed to traffic as the scene was investigated and cleared. A Pennsylvania Department of Corrections officer helped direct traffic; Harleysville Fire Police helped divert traffic as the road closed.

Source One Auto Group towed the cars from the scene.

Perkiomen Valley Patch will publish more information as it becomes available.