Phoenixville Man Indicted After Crash That Killed 19-Month-Old Child

By Anthony Bellano

A Pennsylvania man has been indicted in connection with a crash that killed a 19-month-old girl child and injured several other people last summer, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Winslow Police George Smith said on Thursday.

Anders Opitz, 19, of Phoenixville, Pa., was indicted on one count of second-degree death by auto and one count of fourth-degree assault by auto in connection with a crash on Route 73 near Hays Mill Road in Winslow around 6:30 a.m. on June 29, 2015.

Opitz was driving a 2003 Ford F250 north on Route 73 when police say he sideswiped a 2007 Chevy Van that was also heading north, being driven by 60-year-old Michael Nardello, of Berlin.

The Ford then hit a 2014 Mini Cooper, trapping 64-year-old Landisville resident Joseph Duffy inside. He was rescued by the Winslow Fire Department, and treated at Cooper Hospital.

Opitz’s truck then crashed into the rear of a 2006 Honda Accord that was stopped in traffic.

The collision pushed the Honda into a 2008 Nissan Rogue operated by a 54-year-old Dave Conaway, of Hammonton, who was stopped in traffic.

The Nissan Rogue was subsequently pushed into a Nissan Versa operated by Faith Lenhert, 23, of Hammonton, who was also stopped in traffic.

Ken Matthews, 19, of Phonexville, PA, was in the Accord. He and 28-year-old Michelle Santiago, of Vineland, were both transported to Cooper University Hospital by ambulance.

Santiago’s 19-month-old daughter was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Detectives with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and the Winslow Police Department concluded that Opitz was driving in a reckless manner at the time of the crash, and he was subsequently charged.