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4 Nuns Critically Injured In Crash Were Coming Home From Christmas Festival: Officials

DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) -- Five people are still in critical condition Monday night after a head-on crash in Delaware County Sunday night.

"The occupants of one vehicle was four nuns out of Philadelphia. The driver of the other vehicle is a local resident," said Chief Thomas Sharp, with the Bethel Township Police Department.

One of the crushed cars towed away from the crash scene showed the impact of the crash.

It happened on Conchester Highway just after 7 p.m.

"All the occupants of both vehicles were entrapped," added Chief Sharp. "Preliminary investigation determined that vehicles were traveling in opposite directions and for some unknown reason one of the vehicles veered into the oncoming lane."

Authorities say the nuns were driving in the oncoming lane and were struck head-on by the driver that crossed over the double yellow lines.

After being extricated, the driver of that vehicle and three of the nuns were taken to nearby Crozer-Chester Medical Center in critical condition, while the fourth nun was flown to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

Officials with St. Katherine's of Siena in Northeast Philadelphia confirm the four nuns in critical condition were nuns of the church's convent. Thursday evening the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth released this updated about the Nuns:

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and your kindness this week. Our Sisters in Philadelphia who were involved in the vehicle accident on Sunday have each given permission today for us to share her name with our friends of Nazareth.

We continue to ask for prayers for Sr. Boguslawa, Sr. Mary Anthony, Sr. Regina and Sr. John as they recover from their injuries.

As they convalesce, our injured Sisters have kindly asked for no visitors, please.

If you would like to send one or all of the Sisters a message, we have set up a special email address at PhiladelphiaSisters@nazarethcsfn.org. Please include the Sister's name in the subject line. We will make sure she receives it.

If you would prefer to mail a card or letter, you may send it to:

Attn: Allison Taylor

Assistant Development Director

Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth

2755 Holme Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19152

Please indicate somewhere on the envelope which Sister should receive the message.

All of our Sisters express their sincere gratitude for the outpouring of prayers, concern and support during this challenging time. We also ask for you to continue to respect our Sisters' privacy as they heal.

 

People with the church said Monday the sisters had been at a Christmas festival at Longwood Gardens and were on their way back to the convent when the crash happened.

 

 

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