Eight people, including six women returning from a birthday party, were taken to area hospitals following a collision in New Hanover Township Sunday.

                According to New Hanover Township Police, at 3:51 a.m., the women were inside a 2010 Lincoln Navigator limousine which was backing into a driveway to drop them off at 3383 Church Road, one half mile south of Route 73, when a northbound 1988 Ford Mustang, driven by Sean Lawrence, 25, address unknown, collided with their vehicle.

                The impact reportedly ejected one of the female occupants of the limo and forced the vehicle into a wooded area just north of driveway.  The driver, Robert Heimovitz, 65, of Gilbertsville, was trapped inside.  The remaining six female occupants had to be helped out of the vehicle when police arrived.

                Lawrence was also trapped in his vehicle for about 20 minutes until New Hanover Township Fire and Rescue personnel could remove him from the wreckage.  Heimovitz remained trapped for about 30 minutes until rescue personnel removed a large amount of brush and the driver’s door to get him out.

                 Eight people were transported to either Lehigh Valley Hospital or Reading Hospital with a variety of injuries by Gilbertsville, Goodwill of Pottstown, Upper Perk, Lower Frederick, Green Lane, Trappe, and Boyertown ambulance companies.  One passenger in the limousine refused treatment. All medical helicopters were grounded due to the weather.

                Police said as of Wednesday morning, all the occupants of the limousine, including Heimovitz, have been released from hospitals.  Lawrence is still in Lehigh Valley Hospital, listed in critical condition.

                Authorities said no charges have been filed to date.

                New Hanover Police and New Hanover Township Fire and Rescue were assisted at the scene by Sass-amansville Fire Company, Gilbertsville Fire and Rescue and Upper Frederick Fire Company, along with Douglass Township Police.

                Church Road was closed between Route 73 and Lutheran Road for about five hours while the accident was being investigated by the New Hanover Township Police accident reconstruction team.     

                An investigation is ongoing.