Two drivers were injured, including one airlifted to a Lehigh Valley medical center, after a violent collision in Hometown Wednesday where one vehicle flipped several times before landing upright.

Police and emergency responders were summoned by the Schuylkill Communications Center at 2:41 p.m. for a report of a two-vehicle crash involving entrapment near 189 Claremont Ave. in the vicinity of the Beacon Diner at Hometown's Five Points intersection.Rush Township Police Sgt. Duane Frederick said Kevin Resino, 58, of Hawley was traveling south on Claremont Avenue in a 1997 Mercury.At the same time, Alex Sakas, 76, of Bethlehem, was traveling east on Mahanoy Avenue, Route 54, attempting to cross Route 309 to continue east on Route 54 when his 2012 Toyota was struck by Resino's Mercury.Police said the Mercury flipped several times before landing upright.The driver's side rear wheel completely broke off from the force of the spinning vehicle, said witnesses.Resino was airlifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, and Sakas was taken to St. Luke's Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale.The collision took place on busy Farmers Market day.At the time, many were having lunch at the Beacon Restaurant and McDonald's, with several witnesses describing what happened.All said the crash was especially violent and even spectacular.Some said both cars were lifted high into the air by the force of the crash."I saw the car flip once," said Jason Sylvester, on hand with Cesare Picone of Tamaqua. Both ran to see what happened and offer assistance.Turkey Hill employee Brenden Bugge of Tamaqua, said the SUV spun in air."It flipped two or three times," Bugge said."I was pulling in and going to work. Somebody ran a red light."Similarly, Frank Walton of Tamaqua, was traveling south on Lincoln Drive and approached the scene moments after the crash."I heard it," Walton said. "I went to him to see if he was OK."Walton remained on hand and assisted emergency responders in cleaning up the scene, which was scattered with debris and broken glass.Police said Resino failed to stop at the red light.Route 309 is a heavily traveled, four-lane highway. Traffic was backed up in all directions.Tow trucks from Hope's Collision and Towing were dispatched to remove the vehicles.Captain Merle Wertman of Hometown Fire Police, and other volunteers had their hands full directing traffic approaching from five directions.Wertman expressed frustration about impatient drivers, something he's noticed at recent crash scenes, he said.Many are in a hurry and don't like to wait at crashes, and some refuse to take direction from fire police.At times drivers try to proceed when the road is blocked by crashed vehicles, ambulances and firetrucks."They just don't listen," said Wertman. "They don't want to cooperate."Wertman warned there are serious consequences for those who obstruct the work of responders at a crash scene, especially those who intentionally ignore directions by fire police.It's imperative, said Wertman, that all drivers pay attention to what fire police are telling them in order to ensure everybody's safety.The Route 309 Corridor from West Penn Township, through Tamaqua and into Rush Township continues to be a high-risk highway, scene of many severe and fatal crashes.