Police: Motorcycle Struck Car in Fatal Street Road Accident (Updated)

Monday, 1:21 p.m.:

The victims of Saturday evening’s motorcycle vs. car crash at Street Road and Knowles Avenue in Upper Southampton have been identified as John “Jack” Edel, 52, of the Trevose section of Lower Southampton, and Ellen Kelly, 50, of Penndel.

Edel, who was pronounced dead shortly after arriving by ambulance at Abington Memorial Hospital, was driving the black and metallic colored Yamaha motorcycle. Kelly, the passenger, was flung from the bike and was pronounced dead at the scene, police reported in a release. Both of the victims were wearing helmets, Detective Craig Rudisill confirmed.

Police said a preliminary investigation revealed the bike was traveling eastbound on Street Road when it struck the front of a light colored Chevrolet Impala. Investigation revealed the Impala was attempting to make a left turn from westbound Street Road onto Knowles Avenue.

The driver of the Impala, who suffered only minor injuries, was identified by police as 28-year-old Royersford resident Kenneth Kosza. His passenger was Andrea Kosza, 26. Both were transported to St. Mary Medical Center and later released.

Both Edel and Kelly were employed part-time by the Neshaminy School District in support positions, officials said.

For more than 20 years, Edel owned and operated Jack’s Drains, a Feasterville business specializing in plumbing, drain and sewer cleaning. According to Edel’s son, Jonathan, his father began driving school buses after the recent economic downturn.

Edel’s son said his family was shocked to hear of the motorcycle wreck Saturday evening. Jonathan and his two sisters - Kristina and Rebecca - remain in a state of shock as of Monday afternoon, he said.

“I remember him as the most giving person I’ve ever known,” Jonathan said of his father, who grew up in Huntingdon Valley and moved to Trevose many years ago.

Kelly, a mother of two, had worked as a lunch aide at Carl Sandberg Middle School and Albert Schweitzer Elementary School in the Neshaminy School District for several years. She also worked part time as a crossing guard in her hometown of Penndel, where was known a someone who was always very pleasant and nice to to deal with, according to the borough’s mayor, Bob Winkler.

One of Kelly’s two children will visit the scene of the accident Monday afternoon in an attempt to get closure, a friend of Kelly said.

Jonathan said his father and mother were married and was unclear of the relationship between Edel and Kelly.

Officers from Upper Southampton and Northampton townships were back out at the scene of the crash Sunday afternoon taking measurements for the final accident report.

Authorities report the investigation is still ongoing and are requesting witnesses contact Det. Craig Rudisill at 215-364-5000 ext. 117 or crudisill@southamptonpa.com.

Original Story:

The Upper Southampton Police Department have identified the victims of as John Edel and Ellen Kelly.

The department issued the following press release regarding the accident Monday afternoon:

The Upper Southampton Police Department is investigating a traffic accident which claimed the lives of a motorcycle driver and his passenger.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Street Road and Knowles Avenue on Saturday June 30, 2012 at 7:05pm.

Preliminary investigation has revealed the Yamaha motorcycle was traveling East on Street Road when it struck a Chevrolet Impala attempting to negotiate a left turn from Westbound Street Road onto Knowles Avenue.

The operator of the motorcycle has been identified as John Edel, 52, of Trevose. He was pronounced dead at Abington Hospital shortly after the accident.

The passenger, Ellen Kelly, 50, of Penndel was pronounced dead at the scene.              

The driver of the Impala has been identified as Kenneth Kosza, 28, of Royersford. Kosza suffered minor injuries and was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Langhorne for treatment and was later released.

A passenger in the Impala, Andrea Kosza, 26, was not injured.         

The accident remains under investigation and any witnesses are requested to contact Det. Craig Rudisill at 215-364-5000 ext. 117 or crudisill@southamptonpa.com.