Ava, the white dog who fled the scene of a fatal crash on Interstate 78, has finally been reunited with her family.
The Berks Dog Search group that took the helm of the rescue effort posted an update Tuesday night saying the American husky, after 17 days, is home safe.
The daughter of the dog’s owner ? 55-year-old Lisa Winter, who was seriously injured in the June 29 crash that killed her husband and son ? commented on a post in the Berks Dog Search Facebook group confirming the news.
“She came right to my mom tonight!” Nicole Buglino wrote. “Thank you everyone for all your prayers!”
Searchers had posted periodic updates saying they had eyes on her for most of the time, as she returned repeatedly to an isolated safe spot. Ava was very skittish, they said, warning others not to try to approach but to only report sightings privately to the search group.
“It’s a technical process and the family is aware of our plans and are part of those plans,” the group wrote July 5.
The early-morning crash involved two SUVs in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 44 in Berks County, about 2 miles over the Lehigh County line. When their car tumbled down an embankment, 56-year-old Nicholas Winter and 26-year-old Nicolas Winter were killed, along with one of three dogs in the car.
Another dog was injured, state police said, and another ? Ava ? ran away.
Investigators charged 41-year-old Christopher A. Cornelius of Kentucky, the driver of the SUV that hit the rear of the Winters’ vehicle, with two counts of vehicular homicide and manslaughter, and multiple counts each of reckless driving and careless driving resulting in death.
Morning Call reporter Kayla Dwyer can be reached at 610-820-6554 or at kdwyer@mcall.com.
