State police at Lehighton are investigating a violent crash in which one person was seriously injured while another, the driver, fled the scene.

The crash occurred 3 a.m. Sunday morning along Route 895 just east of the intersection with Lauchnor Road. It appeared the duo were traveling west when the driver lost control. The car crossed the roadway entering the berm where it snapped off a utility pole.

The car continued airborne with the passenger being ejected from the vehicle, as it flew over the guardrails and down a steep embankment. The car landed on its roof. After sliding a distance the unit came to rest with the driver climbing out and running down an embankment in the area of the Lizard Creek.

Three fire companies, East Penn, Mahoning Valley and Bowmanstown worked together in bringing the injured up the steep embankment to the roadway. He was treated at the scene by Lehighton paramedics and transported to an area trauma center.

Medical helicopters were requested to the scene but were denied because of the dense fog in the area. The driver of the car is reported to be from the village of Andreas in West Penn Township.

Route 895 was closed for several hours and was reduced to one lane this afternoon as crews repaired the pole.