3 dead, 3 injured in Christmas Day crash near Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County
Three people were killed and three others were taken to the hospital Thursday afternoon after a head-on crash near Bald Eagle State Park.
State police at Rockview have not released details about the identities of those involved, saying the information is being withheld pending next of kin notifications. But an open letter from the superintendent at Keystone Central School District noted those dead included one of their elementary school students and both parents.
The superintendent, Frank Redmon, also said the deceased student’s sister — a student at Central Mountain Middle School — sustained life-threatening injuries and remains in critical care. A press release Friday from the Centre County Coroner’s Office added that a fifth person in the vehicle was also flown from the scene, although information on their condition was not immediately available.
“Our hearts are broken for this family,” Redmon wrote. “On behalf of the Keystone Central School District, we extend our deepest condolences to everyone grieving this unimaginable loss. We also hold the surviving family member in our thoughts and prayers, hoping for strength and healing in the days ahead.”
The crash occurred at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday on North Eagle Valley Road (state Route 150) just south of Swartz Hollow Road in Howard Township, police wrote. The two vehicles involved were a Pontiac G6 and a Nissan Pathfinder. State police said evidence at the scene indicates both vehicles — one traveling northbound and the other traveling southbound — crossed the center line, resulting in the head-on collision.
The driver and two passengers of the Pontiac died on scene from injuries sustained in the crash, police and the coroner’s office wrote. Two other passengers from the Pontiac were flown from the scene with what police described as life-threatening injuries. Autopsies on the parents and child are expected to be conducted over the coming days.
The driver of the Nissan was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. Police made no note of passengers traveling in the Nissan.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact state police at Rockview at 814-355-7545.
North Eagle Valley Road, from Howard Divide Road to Hunter Run Road, was closed for hours Thursday while crews worked on scene. The road reopened by 7:45 p.m. Thursday.
Howard Fire Company, Pleasant Gap EMS, Bellefonte EMS, Blanchard EMS, Mount Nittany Paramedics, Stat Med, Life Flight and Rich’s Towing assisted state police on scene.
This story was originally published December 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM.
