20-year-old seriously injured, 53-year-old in custody after fiery crash in Swansea

SWANSEA — Fire Chief Eric Hajder and Police Chief Marc Haslam report that Swansea police officers and firefighters responded to the scene of a two-vehicle crash Thursday night on Swansea Mall Drive.

At just before 8:00 p.m., crews were dispatched to the scene of a crash near 147 Swansea Mall Drive (Route 118).

According to a preliminary investigation, one vehicle was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Swansea Mall Drive and then struck another vehicle head-on. The drivers of the vehicles were a 20-year-old male and a 53-year-old male, both from Swansea. There were no passengers.

Upon arriving, first responders discovered both parties still in their vehicles. One vehicle was on fire; police officers extricated that driver. Swansea firefighters extricated the driver of the other vehicle using hydraulic tools.

Both drivers were taken to a local hospital. According to family, the 20-year-old is in critical condition.

The 53-year-old male was taken into custody for suspected Operating Under the Influence of Liquor. His name was not released.

The crash remains under investigation.