Buckeye Road Crash Victim Died of Blunt Force Injuries, Autopsy Finds

The Macungie man whose car collided with a tank truck on Buckeye Road in Upper Milford Sunday night died of multiple blunt force injuries, according to an autopsy performed by the Lehigh County coroner's office.

The coroner's office ruled the death of James F. Heller, 61, of 101 S. Main St., an accident. 

Heller was driving a Chevrolet Cavalier west on Buckeye Road and a tractor trailer driven by Matthew Phillip Wise, 26, of Fort Bragg, N.C., was attempting to turn east on Buckeye Road from Tank Farm Road, state police at Fogelsville said. The car reportedly hit the tractor trailer. 

The tank truck began leaking diesel fuel that resulted in the closing of Buckeye Road while the state Department of Environmental Protection and a Hazardous Materials Unit from Lehigh County were called to the scene, according to emergency scanner reports. 

Heller was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident about 11:20 p.m. Sunday, the coroner's office said. 

Wise was reportedly taken to a local hospital to be examined for injuries. 

State troopers are still investigating the crash. They ask anyone who witnessed the accident police to call them at 610-395-1438.