BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — The death of a 17-year-old student outside Freedom High School early Sunday was the result of teens “participating in reckless behavior,” the police chief said Monday.
Police identified the victim as David Nagy, of Bethlehem Township.
The coroner found Nagy died of blunt force trauma to the head after colliding with a parked car, township Police Chief Gregory Gottschall said.
Citing an ongoing criminal investigation, Gottschall would not elaborate on specifically how the collision occurred or what the teens were doing.
Nagy was not in a vehicle at the time of the collision, Gottschall said.
It happened just before 1:30 a.m. in a Freedom High parking lot.
The incident involved five teens, including the victim, and two vehicles, according to the chief. The initial police news release described the incident as a fatal pedestrian crash.
“Everyone involved has been cooperative,” Gottschall said. “It was a group of friends involved in the incident. A number of teenagers were participating in reckless behavior. That behavior resulted in the death of the victim.”
Nagy’s manner of death is pending the results of the investigation. Both Gottschall and Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta described it as a criminal investigation.
“My investigators are still executing search warrants and they’re still looking at everything,” Gottschall said.
Nagy was about to complete his junior year at Freedom, Gottschall said.
Bethlehem Area School District officials in a message Sunday confirmed a student died.
“It is with deep sadness that we communicate this devastating news,” said the message posted on the high school and school district websites.
“The district will be deploying counselors and additional resources to Freedom [on Monday], and ongoing as needed, to assist with any students and/or staff members who are in need of support …
“On behalf of the BASD community, we offer our heartfelt sympathy to the family and to all those affected by this tragic incident.”
Township police are seeking witnesses and additional information.
They ask anyone with information to contact the Northampton County 911 Operations Center at 610-759-2200 or township police Investigator Gretchen Kraemer at 610-814-6473 or gkraemer@bethlehemtwp.com.
