By Brett R. Crossley
MIFFLINBURG — Randall Boyer III, who survived a crash that killed three members of his group Saturday afternoon in the Bald Eagle State Forest, was apparently at the accident scene for almost five hours before being discovered.
The 16-year-old remained in critical condition Monday night at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, a Geisinger spokesman said.
His father, Randall Boyer Jr., 35, of Middleburg, his father’s fiancee, Kimberly Carroll, of Middleburg, 29, and Carroll’s 9-year-old son Joseth Stanton, died when the elder Boyer’s pickup truck struck a tree about noon in Lewis Township, Union County.
Randall Boyer III was found by passers-by about 5 p.m., according to Richard Todd Martin, the investigating forest ranger.
The group had been collecting firewood for an outdoor stove they used.
Edward Stanton, Carroll’s father, said Randall Boyer III was almost certainly riding in the back of the truck when the crash occurred.
“It was common for him to ride on top of the wood until they got to the main road.” Stanton said. “It may have saved his life.”
Relatives weren’t concerned when the group did not immediately return from the woods, Stanton said.
They usually stayed past dark, collecting as many as three loads of firewood, he added.
“We knew every Saturday they went up there to gather wood,” Stanton said. “Since the beginning of August they had been going to the forest. They do this every year. They weren’t in an area they didn’t know.”
Earlier in the day, they were stopped by ranger John Andrews, who asked if Boyer had a permit for collecting firewood, which he did. According to Martin, that occurred at 9:30 a.m.
Martin said the lack of traffic on Old Shingle Road, where the accident occurred, was not unusual.
“During Penn State games traffic is oftentimes light,” Martin said. “People are usually watching the game. It’s apparent nobody used the road for several hours Saturday.”
Speaking of his daughter, Stanton said: “She always brightened everyone’s day. She was just a very happy girl. She was a loving daughter, mother, sister and aunt. Her and my grandson loved to spend time with their animals on their farm.”
Midd-West School District Superintendent Wesley Knapp said he could not confirm whether Randall Boyer III was a student in the district.
However, Joseth Stanton was a third-grader at Middleburg Elementary School.
The elementary principal is aware of the child’s death, and counselors were immediately alerted, Knapp said.
Both counselors and teachers have been prepared to counsel students during this time, and additional counselors from other schools within the district may be called on to help, he said.
