I-80 Car Crash Closes Eastbound Lanes

 

An Aug. 27 2010 Interstate 80 car accident involving a car and 2 tractor-trailers shut down the I-80 eastbound lanes in Pocono Township.  According to The Pocono Record, a tractor-trailer driver was speeding in a construction zone on I-80.  He rear-ended another truck and forced it into the rear of a car driven by an East Bangor PA resident.  Both tractor-trailers were towed from the scene of the I-80 accident in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

 

For a car accident

consultation call

800-980-4842

 

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Allentown Car Crash Kills Emmaus Driver

 

On August 20, 2010 an Allentown PA car accident resulted in the death of a 29 year-old Emmaus resident.  According to the Morning Call, the Upper Milford Township driver lost control of his car and crashed into an embankment next to a utility pole at Fish Hatchery Road and Oxford Drive.  The Lehigh County Coroner's office declared him dead at the scene of the car wreck due to multiple traumatic injuries.

 

Another Route 33 Fatal Crash

 

On August 16, 2010, a Tobyhanna PA car accident victim died after a fatal one car crash on Route 33 between Wind Gap and Saylorsburg PA.  According to the Pocono Record, Pennsylvania State Police theorize that a male teenage driver may have fallen asleep while driving at 3:12 a.m.  His car veered off Rt. 33 and crashed into a tree.  The Pocono Mountain West student was a passenger in the car along with 4 other teenagers who managed to escape the burning car wreck.

 

For a car wreck

consultation call

800-980-4842

  

East Stroudsburg Car Accident Victim Dies in Crash

 

On Aug. 2, 2010, an East Stroudsburg motor vehicle accident victim died in a one car crash in Middle Smithfield township.  According to the Pocono Record, a 68 year-old Monroe County resident lost control of his Ford Ranger pick-up truck and slammed into a tree.  The truck burst into flames after impact.  A passerby pulled the accident victim out of the truck, but he succumbed to his fatal injuries.

 

For a car crash
consultation call
800-980-4842

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PA Turnpike Accident Results in Child's Death

 

On July 26, 2010, a five year-old child was killed in a one-car crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Chester County PA.  As described on CBS.com, a woman was driving a minivan in the westbound lanes of I-76 approaching the Morgantown exit when a rear tire apparently suffered a blow-out.

 

The motor vehicle spun out of control, ultimately landing on its roof.  The young child did not have a seatbelt on and was ejected from the minivan.  A number of other passengers were injured.  The westbound lanes of the PA TPK were shut down for several hours after this tragic accident.

 

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Bethlehem Woman Killed in I-78 Crash

On July 19, 2010, a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 78 in Warren County, New Jersey claimed the life of a 37 year-old Bethlehem woman.  According to the Morning Call, the Lehigh Valley car accident victim was driving her car eastbound on I-78 when a SUV lost control in the westbound lane and crashed head-on into her automobile.  Police believe a rainstorm may have played a part in causing the crash.  Traffic on I-78 was diverted onto Route 33 and Route 22 for over 4 hours.

 

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Carbon County Crash Kills Nesquehoning Driver

 

On July 6, 2010 a one-car crash on Route 54 in Nesquehoning killed a Carbon County PA driver.  According to the Morning Call, the 42 year old Nesquehoning driver lost control on Rt. 54, struck an embankment and flipped over.  Route 54 was closed for 4 hours while the Nesquehoning Police Department, with assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police, investigated the fatal Carbon County crash.

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Quakertown Crash Takes Life of Pennsburg Woman

On July 5, 2010, a 24 year-old woman from Pennsburg PA was riding on Route 663 in Milford Township when she crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with an SUV.  The Montgomery County PA driver was flown from Rt. 663 to St. Luke's Hospital in Quakertown where she later died.  The Morning Call reported that the other driver was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem for medical treatment.  Pennsylvania State Police in Dublin PA are investigating the fatal crash.

 

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Perkasie PA Crash Results in DUI Charges

 

On June 18, 2010, a Quakertown man crashed his automobile in Perkasie PA after fleeing from police in Richland Township.  According to The Reporter, the 36 year-old Bucks County driver drove thru a stop sign and sped away from police.  He crashed his car at the intersection of Spruce and South Seventh Streets in Perkasie.

 

Route 209 Carbon County Car Crash

On June 13, 2010, an SUV crashed on Route 209 in Jim Thorpe PA injuring 3 people.  As noted on wfmz.com, the SUV flipped several times on Rt. 209 before coming to a stop.  Two adults and a child were taken by ambulance from Route 209 to a local hospital.

Route 115 Traffic Flow Altered for Pocono Race

To improve traffic flow on June 6, 2010 for the Pennsylvania 500 Race at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, PA State Police have announced traffic pattern changes.  From 7:00 a.m. until the start of the race, Rt. 115 will be 2 lanes of southbound traffic only from I-80 to the racetrack.  With 40 laps remaining in the race, traffic will be northbound only on Route 115 from the racetrack to Interstate 80.

Road Rage Incident on Route 22

On June 4, 2010, a Slatington PA man allegedly shot a pellet gun at another car on Rt. 22.  As described in the Morning Call, Easton police arrested a 23 year-old resident of Chestnut Street and charged him with multiple crimes including aggravated assault.  The victim informed the officers that 2 shots were fired into his car when he was riding eastbound on Route 22.

 

I-80 Crash Results in DUI Charge

A May 22, 2010 car crash on I-80 outside of Stroudsburg resulted in an Easton PA driver being charged with DUI.  As noted in the Pocono Record, Brian Garis of Easton hit a concrete divider and then ultimately drove onto Main Street in Stroudsburg where he was arrested.  He was allegedly under the influence of prescription drugs and cocaine.

Bethlehem Driver Dies in I-78 Crash

On May 2, 2010, a 37 yr. old man from Bethlehem was involved in a crash on I-78 which took his life.  An AP report noted that the Bethlehem PA car accident victim was traveling the wrong way on I-78 when he hit an SUV and then spun into a bus being driven by a New Kensington PA man.  The Lehigh Valley driver was pronounced dead shortly after the crash.

DUI Driver Injures Carbon County Residents

On April 20, 2010, 3 residents of Nesquehoning were injured in a car crash in Schuylkill County.  The Morning Call reported that a man driving a pick-up truck on Route 443 turned left in front of the Carbon County car accident victims causing a 3 car crash.  Two of the passengers were taken by MedEvac to Lehigh Valley Hospital.  The pick-up truck driver was taken into custody for possible DUI charges.

Wrong Way DUI Causes I-80 Car Accident

On April 17, 2010, a car crash took place on I-80 in Stroudsburg PA.  According to the Pocono Record, a 21 year-old driver from Blakeslee was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane of Interstate 80 at 2:31 a.m. without his Mazda Protoge's headlights on.

A car driven by a Wilkes-Barre resident collided with the Mazda.  The jaws of life were used to extricate the Blakeslee driver whom police later charged with DUI.  The 2 innocent occupants of the other motor vehicle were taken for treatment to Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg, PA.

I-80 Car Crash Fatality

An April 7, 2010 car accident resulted in the death of a Philadelphia driver.  The 19 yr. old man was driving westbound on I-80 when he lost control, cut thru 2 travel lanes and crashed into a rock embankment.  The Daily Collegian referred to a Pennsylvania State Police Report that the driver was not wearing his seatbelt and was partially ejected from his Ford Contour.  The Centre County Coroner pronounced the driver dead at the scene of the I-80 car accident.

3 Deaths in Bethlehem Twp. Car Accident

A preliminary criminal hearing was waived on March 26, 2010 after a fatal car crash in Bethlehem Township on January 28, 2010.  As reported at wfmz.com, a 25 yr. old man of Bethlehem Township, Northampton County was charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.  Area police alleged that his blood alcohol level was nearly 3x Pennsylvania's legal limit.

Police alleged that the defendant was speeding and driving thru red lights when he collided with a car at the intersection of Willow Park Rd. and Easton Avenue in Bethlehem Twp.  All 3 occupants of the other car were killed.

Pike County Driver
Killed in Route 6 Crash

On March 25, 2010, a 67 year-old Pike County car accident victim died after a 1 car crash on Route 6.  The News Eagle reports that the Shohola PA resident was driving her 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee westbound on Rt. 6 when she lost control, went over an embankment and the Jeep landed on its driver's side.  Pennsylvania State Police from Blooming Grove are investigating this deadly crash.

Tow Truck Stuck in
Mud After Rt. 33 Crash

A March 23, 2010 one car crash on Route 33 resulted in both the car and a responding tow truck needing to be towed out of the mud.  As noted on lehighvalleylive.com, a Wind Gap resident lost control of his 1998 Hyundai on Rt. 33 and spun 30 yards off the roadway.  A tow truck from Nazareth PA got stuck in the mud caused by heavy rains.  Another Lehigh Valley tow truck operator was called to the scene of the crash to extricate both vehicles.

Allentown Bans Cell Phone
Text Messaging by Drivers

On March 19, 2010, Allentown's prohibition against cell phone use & text messaging went into effect.  Motorists ticketed by police talking, texting or browsing the web on a cell phone while driving in Allentown PA can be fined $150 to $300.  For the first 30 days, the Allentown police force will issue written warnings to offending drivers and will encourage them to use hands-free devices.

As reported in The Morning Call, the impetus for the ban came as a result of a 2008 Berks County PA car accident.  2 people were killed by a teenage driver who was distracted while using a cell phone.  Various legal challenges are expected based upon the failure of the Pennsylvania legislature to amend the PA Vehicle Code to ban cell phone use by drivers statewide.

Criminal Charges in Montco

On March 16, 2010, the Montgomery County PA District Attorney's Office filed criminal charges, including homicide by vehicle, as a result of a Feb. 17, 2010 bus-car accident which killed a 27 year old Gilbertsville PA resident.  As described in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a Schwenksville PA driver was talking on his cell phone headset and playing with his iPod while driving a school bus filled with 45 children on their way to Perkiomen Valley Middle School.

Videotape from the bus allegedly showed the bus driver running 10 stop signs before he negligently made a left turn on Route 73 in front of an incoming car.  Previously, the bus driver ran a stop sign in 1999 while driving a car and using a cell phone.  The ensuing crash killed a Hilltown Township Bucks County PA 2 year-old child.  Her mother has become an advocate for a Pennsylvania ban on cell phone use by drivers.

Monroe Jury Acquits in Car
Crash Death of State Senator

The March 15, 2010 decision by a Monroe County PA jury to acquit Thomas Senantis of vehicular homicide and homicide by vehicle while driving drunk took many legal observers by surprise.  Prosecution witnesses testified that on Oct. 17, 2008 the Defendant was driving on Route 209 near Brodheadsville PA with a blood alcohol level of at least 0.355 - more than 4 times the State's legal limit.

The Polk Township resident was driving his pick-up truck when there was a collision with a car driven by Pennsylvania State Senator James Rhoades.  There was conflicting eyewitness testimony as to which driver went into the other driver's lane prior to the crash.  A key factor in the jury's decision may have been testimony concerning a mini-van that was parked ahead of Sen. Rhoades and suddenly pulled out in front of him.  The Senator swerved to the left to avoid the mini-van and may have gone into the oncoming lane of travel.  The Defendant was found guilty of reckless endangerment and driving under the influence.

 

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Car Accident Death on PA
Turnpike Northeast Extension

On March 13, 2010, a Kutztown University student from Philadelphia was in a car on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  The driver lost control and crashed in Lower Macungie Township near the Allentown, PA exit.  The car accident victim was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene by the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.

Another occupant of the car was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for medical treatment.  The Pennsylvania State Police from the King of Prussia barracks is investigating the one-car crash.

Bill Passes to Ban Cell Phone Use While Driving in PA

On Jan. 26, 2010, the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives passed a bill banning hand-held cell phone use while driving.  This law would ban texting or talking with/on a cell phone while driving in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  According to an article on philly.com, 5 other states have passed laws with similar cell phone use restrictions.

The House bill passed by a vote of 189 to 6.  It now must be voted on by the PA Senate.  Governor Rendell has stated that he would sign the bill into law if it passed the Senate.  As currently stated, the proposed law would impose a $50.00 fine if a driver is convicted of using a hand-held cell phone while driving.

Car Crash Deaths up 18% in Bucks County in 2009

According to records from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there were 64 fatalities on Bucks County PA roadways in 2009. That is an 18% increase from the 54 deaths on Bucks County highways in 2008.  An article in the Bucks County Courier Times stated that in the 5 County Philadelphia region, only Philadelphia County had more highway deaths than Bucks County in 2009 - 95.