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The fatal wreck happened at 2:37 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at 3734 Route 115 in Blakeslee, Tunkhannock Township, police said.
Samuel Frantz, 57, was making a left turn into a driveway from Route 115 South when he was struck by Stephen Zazulak, 25, who was traveling northbound, according to investigators.
Due to the heavy fog, visibility was low at the time of the crash, authorities noted.
Frantz and his passengers—JoAnn Bonsall Kiefer, 75, and her daughter, Cherylynn Kiefer-Frantz, 55 of Blakeslee — were rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital Pocono and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, but Kiefer and Kiefer-Frantz did not survive their injuries.
Kiefer was the widow of Franklin J. Kiefer, with whom she had celebrated 52 years of marriage before his passing in 2018. Franklin, a former electrical engineer for Volkswagen in Philadelphia and a longtime maintenance director in Kentucky, was also an artist and musician who marched in the Philadelphia Mummers Parade, as detailed in his obituary published by Kresge Funeral Home. Together, JoAnn and Franklin raised their family in Blakeslee, where she was a proud grandmother to four grandchildren.
Kiefer-Frantz, known for her years of volunteer work with the West End Food Pantry, was deeply involved in her community.
Cherylynn Kiefer-Frantz's Facebook intro reflected her faith and kindness, featuring Ephesians 4:2:
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
The mother and daughter shared a love for Irish culture, especially through their support of Cherylynn’s daughters, Katarina and Madison, both Irish dancers in their youth. Cherylynn’s Facebook cover photo featured Katarina and Madison mid-performance, a symbol of the family’s pride. JoAnn and Cherylynn frequently attended their competitions, cheering them on and often posting photos from their performances.
In a poignant final Facebook post before her passing, Kiefer shared an Irish blessing, reflecting her heritage and love for her family:
"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."
The Pocono Mountain Regional Police Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the crash.
No charges have been announced.
Daily Voice has reached out to the family and offers them the opportunity to share funeral and/or fundraiser details by emailing jpikora@dailyvoice.com.
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