PENNDEL, Pa. – A Bethel, Maine, woman remained in critical condition Wednesday night after a two-car accident Tuesday evening just north of Philadelphia.

According to police in Bucks County, Melody Bonnema, 61, of Bethel, Grace Pursell, 75, of Bristol, Pa., and Samuel Dalessandro, 85, of Penndel, Pa., were taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown Township with injuries.

A hospital spokeswoman said late Wednesday night that Bonnema remained in critical condition. Her father, Dalessandro, and Pursell had been discharged, she said.

The women were passengers in a Ford Taurus driven by Dalessandro, according to police. Dalessandro was driving west on West Lincoln Highway about 5:03 p.m. when he attempted to turn left onto Neshaminy Street in front of an eastbound Toyota Camry driven by Alena Karavai, 38, of Philadelphia. The Camry struck the Taurus, which spun onto Neshaminy Street and struck the front of another Toyota stopped at a red light, according to police.

Police said the accident is still under investigation.

Bonnema and her husband, Garret Bonnema, established Bonnema Pottery in Bethel in 1974, according to the couple’s business Web site. They make pottery from stoneware and porcelain clay and have exhibited their art throughout Maine, including multiple locations in Bethel, the Atrium Gallery at University of Southern Maine, Lewiston-Auburn College and the Laos Matolcsy Art Gallery in Norway.

The couple have also been active in L/A Arts and are frequent contributors to the organization’s annual invitational art auction.

A call to the couple’s gallery Wednesday was not answered.


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