Police: Before crashing into police cruiser, man carjacked vehicle in Lititz during crime spree

Before crashing a car into a police cruiser in Columbia Borough early New Year's Day, a young man had carjacked the vehicle from a pizza deliveryman in Lititz, police said Tuesday.

William Gustafson, Jr., 20, of Sheri Lane, Lititz, is responsible for a crime spree through three municipalities, Lititz Borough police Detective Sgt. John Schofield reported Tuesday.

Columbia police tried to stop Gustafson for an unrelated traffic violation in that borough, not knowing he had been involved in a prior incident, investigators said.

Gustafson fled and then crashed the vehicle into another Columbia officer's cruiser at South Third and Union streets.

Police removed Gustafson from the car after it caught fire in the collision, state police said. He was taken to Lancaster General Hospital for treatment of severe injuries.

The officer in the struck cruiser was treated for minor injuries at the hospital and released.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/941103_Police--Before-crashing-into-police-cruiser--man-carjacked-vehicle-in-Lititz-during-crime-spree.html

Lititz man who crashed into police cruiser is identified

State police have identified the driver who led police on a chase and then crashed into a police cruiser Wednesday morning in Columbia.

William Owen Gustafson Jr., 20, of Sheri Lane, Lititz, was extricated from his car by responding police after his vehicle caught fire, state police Trooper Stefanie Trzaska reported Thursday.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/939090_Lititz-man-who-crashed-into-police-cruiser-is-identified.html

Why the Amish Don't Get Sick: Things You Can Learn From Them

Two surprising points that stand out are that they don't get vaccinated, and they eat a high-fat diet.

GO HERE FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.lahealthyliving.com/1/post/2013/12/why-the-amish-dont-get-sick-things-you-can-learn-from-them.html

Columbia Tree Society accepting memberships

Membership donations and other contributions will help to continue the planting and maintenance of trees within the Columbia area.

GO HERE FOR MORE INFO:
http://news.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=95797

At the crash site

Oxygen tubing and neck brace brochures at the site of this morning's two-vehicle crash at 3rd & Union.

For more on the story, go HERE.

What I Saw - New Year's Day 2014

At 3rd & Union: 

A newspaper vending machine - that doubles as a trash receptacle?

(Incidentally, the first one of these used in the United States was on March 20, 1954 in Columbia, Pennsylvania.  Go HERE and HERE for sources.)

New Year's Experience at Turkey Hill

The Cone Drop

Apparently, a splendid time was had by all at Tuesday's New Year's event at the Turkey Hill Experience, which featured the Cone Drop and its accompanying countdown, as well as free coffee and hot chocolate (courtesy of Mike's Diner), free cartons of eggnog (courtesy of Turkey Hill), and a variety of entertainment.  Although the event was well attended by the public, there was a scarcity of vendors representing local businesses.  I was chatting with someone "on the inside" who said that each year every effort is made to extend invitations to local businesses to attend the event and promote their enterprise for free, sponsored by Turkey Hill.  Many businesses decline the invitation.  I don't understand why any business would turn down an opportunity to advertise itself - and possibly even promote the town, in the process.  Speaking of which, I wonder why was there no contingent representing Columbia Borough.  You know, maybe a "Welcome to Columbia" table - or at least a sign.