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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Pennsylvania State Police Reports

Police: Crash Shuts Down Chestnut Street

The driver is taken to a hospital after striking and knocking down a utility pole, troopers say.

A driver was injured and busy Chestnut Street was shut down during rush hour on Tuesday following a single-vehicle accident in Upper Milford Township, according to state police at Fogelsville. Brian D. Lightcap, 19, of Pottstown was northbound in front of 6395 Chestnut St. at 4:54 p.m. when he lost control of his Ford Focus and drove onto the lawn, police said. His vehicle struck a utility pole, pushing his car back onto the roadway and onto the southbound shoulder. The pole tumbled onto Chestnut Street, blocking both lanes, police said. Traffic was detoured at Indian Creek and Tollgate roads. Lightcap was transported to an area hospital by Macungie Ambulance Corps, police said. The Upper Milford Western District Fire Department assisted. …

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Pennsylvania State Police Reports

Police: 1 Hurt as 2 Cars Crash in Upper Milford

Bumpers collide as one car crossed in front of another at a Route 100 intersection, troopers say.

Two cars tangled on Route 100 in Upper Milford Township on Oct. 3, sending one driver to the hospital, according to state police at Fogelsville. Nicole G. Ling, 38, of Barto, Berks County, had just pulled out from E. Macungie Road at 7:43 a.m. and began heading south on Kings Highway N. (also known as Route 100) when her front bumper struck the driver's side front bumper of another car, police said. That car was driven by Carolyn R. Wheeler, 55, of Pennsburg, Montgomery County. Wheeler was driving north on Kings Highway N. Ling's Hyundai Accent came to rest on the roadway, while Wheeler's Chevrolet Aveo was pushed into the parking lot near the Barnyard Market. Wheeler was transported to a hospital by Macungie Ambulance Corps, according to …

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Pennsylvania State Police Reports

Old Zionsville Woman Severely Injured in Crash

She is taken to a hospital after hitting a utility pole in Upper Milford Township, police say.

An Old Zionsville woman was severely injured recently when her car struck a utility pole in Upper Milford Township, according to police. Amanda L. Burgen, 19, was heading south on Chestnut Street just north of Indian Creek Road at 6:36 a.m. Sept. 12 in the Old Zionsville area, according to state police at Fogelsville. Burgen's 2006 Hyundai Sonata went off the right side of the roadway and struck a PPL pole. Police did not list any other vehicle as being involved. Burgen received severe unspecified injuries and was transported to an area hospital by Macungie Ambulance Corps, police said. Upper Milford Western District Fire Department assisted. Burgen was cited for failing to maintain her lane of travel, police said.

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Pennsylvania State Police Reports

Police: Clouded Judgment Causes Upper Milford Crash

Accident from "doughnuts" in the street wasn't sweet for victim or motorcyclist accused of driving under the influence.

A clouded mind may have led to a cloud of smoke that caused a recent accident in Upper Milford Township, according to police. Events began with an unidentified motorcyclist spinning his tires and turning circles in the roadway of Buckeye Road at 8:50 p.m. Aug. 24, according to state police at Fogelsville. The spinning tires produced thick smoke, limiting vision. The unidentified driver following the motorcycle slowed the car when entering the cloud, but could not see the motorcyclist ahead, police said. The car struck the motorcycle, pushing the biker to the ground. No injuries were noted in the report. The motorcyclist retrieved his bike and drove off, but eventually came back to responding police, troopers said. An investigation …

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Tractor-trailer Pushes Vehicle into Woods

Van travels 30 feet and up embankment in Upper Milford, but only minor injuries reported by police.

A tractor-trailer recently crashed into the rear of a van in Upper Milford Township, pushing that vehicle into woods and up an embankment, according to police. The van's occupants were slightly hurt, but did not require medical treatment, said state police at Fogelsville. James M. Amplo, 56, of Pottstown, Montgomery County, was driving the Ford Econoline E-250 van on Chestnut Street, also known as Route 29, at 5:25 p.m. Aug. 18. He was stopped for a vehicle in front of him that was turning about 1/4 mile from Batman Road, police said. A Freightliner tractor-trailer, driven by John J. Kovatch, 28, of Nesquehoning, Carbon County, came up behind Amplo's van and was unable to avoid impact, police said. The van was pushed off the road, traveled…

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Pennsylvania State Police Reports

Upper Milford Crash Into Pole Moderately Hurts Driver

Accident involving utility pole closes Route 100 for several hours, according to emergency transmissions.

An Alburtis man was moderately injured Friday night in a motor vehicle accident with a utility pole that closed King's Highway N. in Upper Milford Township for several hours, according to police. Ryan C. Spear, 40, was the driver in the single-vehicle accident about one-quarter mile south of Beck Road, according to state police at Fogelsville. Spear was driving his 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier north on King's Highway N. when he failed to round a right curve and left the roadway, hitting the utility pole. The accident occurred about 10:30 p.m. and required fire crews to close the highway, also known as Route 100, for several hours between Macungie and where Routes 100 and 29 meet near Shimerville, according to emergency scanner transmissions. …

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Pennsylvania State Police Reports

7-Car Crash Turns Chestnut Street Into Demolition Derby

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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Pennsylvania State Police Reports

Man Unhurt Despite Crashing into Upper Milford Tree

He missed a curve and also hit a mailbox and stump, police say.

A Lower Milford Township man recently avoided injury despite losing control of his car on the 5th Street hill in Upper Milford and smashing into a tree, according to police. Michael S. Halasa, 62, was southbound on 5th Street at 9:51 p.m. July 6 when he failed to round a curve and lost control, according to state police at Fogelsville. Halasa went off the road and struck a mailbox in front of 4980 S. 5th St., hit a tree stump ripping it out of the ground before coming to rest after smashing into a tree. Halasa was not hurt, police said, but his 2010 Hyundai Genesis received disabling damage to the under carriage. He was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, police said. Those test results are pending, …

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Two Hurt in Fiery Lower Mac Crash

Police say the driver was driving 50 mph on a dirt road and lost control. Alburtis Fire Department provides the scorching video.

Reckless driving on a Lower Macungie dirt road recently led to a fiery crash when a vehicle hit a tree and rolled over, according to police. The Chevrolet pickup truck, being driven by Anthony D. Yerance, 20, with an unspecified Allentown address, was traveling about 50 mph at 1:16 p.m. July 2 on Ruth Lane near Alburtis, according to state police at Fogelsville. The road is unpaved and Yerance's vehicle skidded 87 feet while attempting to round a curve before striking a tree with its front end. The truck traveled another 57 feet, hitting an embankment, and an additional 24 feet before striking a second tree head on. The truck rolled over and was engulfed in flames, police said. Yerance and a 17-year-old passenger from the Macungie area …

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