Frank and Bonnie Yonkin, a couple known and loved in their community, were killed Tuesday afternoon when their car collided head-on with a large dump truck on Route 220 near Harney Road. The crash happened just after 3:40 p.m. and shook neighbors from Sullivan and Bradford Counties alike.
Frank, a retired fire chief of the Dushore Fire Company, had spent decades guiding volunteers and answering calls for help across the rural Pennsylvania hills. His wife Bonnie was often at his side, supporting the department and its families in countless ways over the years. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency crews from multiple stations rushed to the intersection when reports came in of a serious wreck. First responders found the pair’s small car badly damaged after striking a tri-axle dump truck traveling in the opposite direction. Traffic was blocked for hours as investigators worked and detours were put in place.
Neighbors say Frank was the kind of leader who could calm anyone in a crisis. As a mentor, he taught younger volunteers not just how to fight fires, but how to help people when they were at their worst. Residents described Bonnie as the steady presence who cheered on every call and made everyone feel like family.
Friends and fire department members gathered Wednesday morning, sharing memories of Frank’s booming laughter and Bonnie’s warm smile. They spoke of Sunday dinners after fire calls and how the couple always put others first, whether it was delivering meals or sitting with someone who needed company.
The loss has left both the fire company and the wider community in a state of shock. Flags that once flew outside the Dushore station now hang at half-mast. Members are asking for thoughts and prayers for the Yonkin family and for the first responders who witnessed the aftermath of the crash.
Pennsylvania State Police say the investigation is ongoing. At this time, authorities have not released details about what caused the truck and the Yonkins’ car to collide head-on, but they continue to examine the scene and talk to witnesses.
