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WYOMING — A 10-year-old boy is being hailed as a hero after he took the wheel of a vehicle as the driver suffered a fatal heart attack, according to police and family members.
The dramatic incident played out about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Investigating officer Paul Bowman explained the driver had a medical emergency, which prompted him to press his foot against the vehicle’s accelerator and strike a utility pole at the corner of Ninth Street and Wyoming Avenue.
Family members have identified the driver as Joseph Kolesar, 51, of Luzerne, the owner of Salerno’s Restaurant in Luzerne.
In the vehicle with the driver were four children, including the 10-year-old, who was identified by family as Carson Crossley. Carson is the best friend of Joseph’s son.
Bowman explained that after the initial impact with the pole, Carson took the wheel, steered away from oncoming traffic and struck the front of a house at 394 Wyoming Ave.
The pole crash damaged the vehicle’s front suspension, which made it harder to steer, police noted.
An officer saw the crash happen and was able to respond immediately, Bowman said. After the vehicle came to a rest, Carson helped get the other children out safely.
Bowman praised the boy’s quick thinking.
“The 10-year-old’s actions, you could probably call them heroic,” he said. “He actually did an outstanding job taking control of the vehicle as well as he could.”
Carson’s mom, Debbie, said in an email to the Times Leader: “I wasn’t surprised by his quick reaction under such pressure, he just wishes that he could (have) helped Joe more. I have always tried to teach my boys to stay calm and be aware of their surroundings, and Carson could not have done a better job!”
‘A great man’
At Salerno’s Restaurant, a darkness hung over the bar Wednesday night. According to patrons and workers, it’s a family environment at Salerno’s and Joseph’s passing would leave a large void.
Chris Jevin, a former employee, and Rich Yamalis, the husband of Joseph’s sister, Sherry, said the restaurant has been a prominent part of the Luzerne community for 18 years, and the family hopes to be able to keep it open.
“It’s what he would’ve wanted,” said Yamalis, of Pittston. “He loved the people of Luzerne.”
“He was a great man,” Jevin, of Swoyersville, added. “When I needed help, he helped me out, and vice versa.”
According to Yamalis and Jevin, the proceeds from Wednesday night’s sales will be going toward Kolesar’s funeral expenses. The family plans to keep the restaurant open the next few days before deciding on the next step.
The regulars at Salerno’s, like Debbie Stefanovich, of Plymouth, are hoping the restaurant stays.
“I’ve been coming for years, and we’ve become a family,” she said. “We hope we can stay here as a family. Joe was everything.”
Yamalis agreed with Stefanovich’s assessment.
“He was too young,” he said. “He’ll be deeply missed.”