Pennsylvania State Police Reports

Zionsville-area Man Killed When Car Splits Pole, Coroner Says

The 59-year-old man lost control on a curve in Upper Milford Township and his car slid sideways into a utility pole, troopers say.

A Zionsville-area man was killed Tuesday afternoon when his vehicle slammed into a utility pole on a Upper Milford Township highway, according to police. Theodore Brent, 59, of 5674 Highfield Drive was traveling south on Vera Cruz Road S. at 4:19 p.m. when he lost control on a curve in front of 6702 Vera Cruz Road, according to state police at Fogelsville. His Mazda Miata spun and continued on for 38 feet before striking the utility pole with its side door. Brent was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:22 p.m. by Deputy Coroner Craig Hanzl, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. The death was ruled accidental as a result of blunt force trauma from the motor vehicle accident. The crash split the pole in half, police said. Power to …

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Car Accident

Wild Ride Yields Minor Injuries, Police Say

Driver loses control on a Lower Macungie curve and bounces from side to side while hitting a tree, wall and embankment.

A Berks County man recently refused medical treatment following a crash that led to a wild ride in Lower Macungie Township, according to police. Johnathan D. Wallace, 18, of Bowers was eastbound on Mertztown Road at 11:24 p.m. Oct. 19 when he lost control ov hs Toyota Corolla on a curve at 9389 Mertztown Road, according to state police at Fogelsville. His car struck a tree, crossed over both lanes of the roadway and bounced off a wall. The car again crossed both traffic lanes and hit an embankment where it finally came to rest. Not surprisingly, the vehicle sustained disabling damage and had to be towed, police said. Wallace received minor injuries, but refused treatment, police said. He was cited for driving too fast for conditions, …

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Car Accident

Driver Falls Asleep, Wakes Up to SUV on its Roof, Police Say

Lower Macungie driver is unhurt despite falling asleep and flipping his vehicle near his home, troopers say.

A sleepy driver in Lower Macungie Township recently woke to a real-life nightmare as his sport-utility vehicle struck another SUV and rolled onto its roof, according to police. Maurice S. Cupido, 36, was westbound on Scenic View Drive at 4:29 a.m. Oct. 21 when he fell asleep, according to state police at Fogelsville. Cupido's SUV struck another vehicle and rolled onto its roof as he approached Knight Drive. Cupido was able to exit the vehicle on his own. He was uninjured, police said. The intersection of Scenic View and Knight drives is close to the 7074 Hunt Drive address listed online for Cupido. The accident brought a response from Macungie Ambulance Corps, and Macungie and Alburtis fire departments. Cupido's vehicle was towed. He also …

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Car Accident

4 Hurt in Head-on Lower Macungie Crash, Police Say

Whitehall driver missed curve and crossed center line causing accident, troopers say.

Four people were injured Thursday when a sport-utility vehicle missed a curve and crashed into another SUV head-on in Lower Macungie Township, according to police. Three of the four victims were moderately hurt, while the fourth received minor injuries, according to state police at Fogelsville. Lloyd H. Diviney, 60, of Whitehall Township was driving his Chevrolet Blazer southbound on Mill Creek Road at 8:39 a.m., police said. He crossed the center line after failing to negotiate a slight turn and collided with a Toyota Highlander driven by Ann L. Neitz, 73, of Emmaus. Diviney was slightly hurt, while Neitz received moderate injuries. The accident occurred on a stretch of Mill Creek Road between Lower Macungie Road and Hamilton Boulevard. …

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Mariella Savidge

5:49 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012

Excellent point about a stretch of road that has been of concern. However, a further check of the police report shows that this is a stretch of Mill Creek Road that is between Lower Macungie Road and Hamilton Boulevard rather than Lower Macungie and Spring Creek. That has now been added to the story and better pinpoints the location.   more ›

Car Accident

Pedestrian Struck by Car in Lower Macungie, Police Say

Driver is not charged as man was walking partially in the roadway, police say.

A Macungie man was struck by a car early Sept. 25 as he walked partially in the cartway of Mill Creek Road, according to police. Justin Myer, 19, was walking in the area of 1935 Mill Creek Road at 6:35 a.m. when he was struck by the mirror of a southbound car, according to state police at Fogelsville. Myer was partially in the travel lane.  Conditions also were dark, with sunrise listed as being 6:53 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. Myer was injured and taken to an area hospital by Cetronia Ambulance Corps, police said. Police did not know the severity of his injuries, but The Morning Call reported that he was treated and released. The car was driven by Frances A. DiGiacomo, 80, of Macungie, police said. DiGiacomo stopped …

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Car Accident

Victim, Witness 'Corner' Hit-Run Driver in Lower Mac

The two follow then detain woman they say struck man's vehicle at a red light, police say.

An innocent accident victim and witness took matters into their own hands recently to help apprehend a hit-and-run driver in Lower Macungie Township, according to police. Craig A. Turton, 56, of Slatington was stopped in traffic southbound on Route 100 at Spring Creek Road when his car was struck from behind at 2:22 Sept. 10, according to state police at Fogelsville. That driver, Kimberly J. Bobenich, 45, of Macungie, fled the scene. Turton and an unidentified witness followed Bobenich, caught up to her and blocked in her vehicle at Foxglove Place and Aster Road, police said. Police were called. Both vehicles were damaged but drivable, police said. No injuries were reported. Police said Bobenich displayed signs of intoxication and was …

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Loose Gravel, Speed Combine to Cause Lower Mac Accidents

Crashes near the same intersection two days apart follow oil and chipping of roadway, police say.

Loose gravel from recent road maintenance was a contributing factor in two motor vehicle accidents that occurred a day apart on Willow Lane in Lower Macungie Township, according to police. Neither accident resulted in serious injury, according to state police at Fogelsville. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently had applied oil and gravel, known as chips, to portions of Willow Lane and several other roadways throughout the East Penn area. PennDOT also had erected several orange signs warning of loose grave that remained in place at the time of the accident and days later in the affected areas. The first accident occurred at 7:33 a.m. Sept. 13 and involved a motorcycle driven by David W. Stout, 50, of Bethlehem, police said…

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Ron Beitler

9:06 am on Friday, September 21, 2012

I might be wrong but I just assumed this was a step in a process. I'd be shocked if this is the condition they are leaving the road in. My parents live on willow. It's not safe. I'm going to try to find out today.   more ›

Crime and Fire

Macungie Man Part of 7-Car Crash

Four are hurt in chain-reaction accident in Upper Milford, police say.

Saturday was an insurance agent's nightmare at an Upper Milford Township intersection. In a blink of an eye, seven vehicles collided, leaving at least four injured and plenty of twisted metal and broken plastic. Events didn't do a whole lot of good either for the vehicle owners or a weary state trooper who had to try to keep it all straight for his report. Trouble began about 4:38 p.m. at Chestnut Street and Buckeye Road. Five vehicles were southbound on Chestnut and were stopped or stopping for a red traffic signal at Buckeye Road as a car driven by Frederick C. Daniel, 69, of Emmaus approached from behind, according to state police at Fogelsville. For an unknown reason, Daniel began passing the line of stopped vehicles, police said, and …

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Orefield Teen Dies in Lower Macungie Crash

William Bickford, 19, of Orefield was killed in a rollover crash in Lower Macungie on Friday night

An Orefield teen was killed late Friday when he was partially ejected from his car, the car rolled over and he was pinned beneath, according to police. William David Bickford, 19, was driving southbound on Route 309 at 10:59 p.m. when he lost control of his car on a left-hand curve, according to state police at Fogelsville. His 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt went onto the shoulder and struck a concrete barrier of the Interstate 78 overpass. The car continued for about 100 feet before rolling and partially ejecting Bickford. Police said he was not wearing a seat belt. The Lehigh County coroner's office was called, police said. Area roadways were wet because of daylong rain, but police did not say whether that contributed to the accident. Emergency …

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Crime and Fire

Driver Rescued from Tipped Vehicle

He is moderately hurt at Lower Macungie intersection where accident occurred a week before, police say.

A driver was moderately hurt and had to be rescued by firefighters Friday after his car was struck by another and landed on its side in Lower Macungie Township, according to police. Bernard C. Schwindenhammer, 74, of 3120 Diamond Ave., Allentown, was preparing to make a left turn from the northbound turning lane on Route 222 at 9:49 a.m., according to state police at Fogelsville. The traffic light was yellow. Another car, driven by Raymond J. Bleiler, 80, of North Whales, Montgomery County, approached the intersection with Krocks Road on southbound Route 222. Police said Schwindenhammer began to turn left onto Krocks Road, believing that Bleiler was going to stop for the traffic light. Bleiler braked but was unable to avoid a collision …

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