ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Lehigh County District Attorney's Office is seeking the public's help for two investigations into recent serious car crashes.
A release from the office acknowledged that four serious crashes occurred recently, but two fatal ones that happened on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 "were determined to be not criminal as the investigation revealed the victims were at fault."
"We are also seeking the public’s help to come forward with information about these crashes," District Attorney Gavin Holihan said in the release.
The other two — on Sunday and Friday — are still under investigation.
"Not only do [reckless drivers] put themselves at risk, but they endanger the lives of others not engaging in risky behavior."Press release from the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office
Ezequiel Hernandez-Cartagena, of Allentown, died from blunt force injuries from a vehicle crash Sunday, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.
The 20-year-old was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenberg and succumbed to his injuries at 8:05 p.m.
The district attorney's office said the vehicle, a Honda Accord, was traveling northbound on Central Boulevard in Bethlehem when it "attempted to pass two vehicles, lost control and slid on the passenger side into a telephone pole on the west side of the road."
When police arrived, they found a car heavily damaged that had struck a utility pole. They were unable to locate a driver or passengers.
The release says the driver fled into the woods and that Allentown and Bethlehem police attempts to locate him were unsuccessful.
Two days earlier, a crash on American Parkway in Allentown involving a reportedly stolen Nissan Maxima took place around 2:35 p.m. The release does not identify the driver, but says that two teens, ages 14 and 15, and a passenger, were injured.
"An investigation showed that the car was traveling at an extremely high rate of speed when the car lost control and crashed into a streetlight pole before flipping over," the release said.
In another crash on Saturday, Oct. 5, Stephen La Pierre, 66, of Upper Macungie Township, died after being thrown from his vehicle following a crash in Upper Macungie.
La Pierre's car "struck a curb and crossed all lanes on Tilghman Street before hitting a lamp pole and became airborne," the release says.
La Pierre was thrown from the vehicle after it veered off the road and rolled down an embankment in a wooded area east of Werley Road, Coroner Daniel Buglio said.
"An investigation into this crash determined La Pierre’s car had been speeding just prior to the accident," the release says. "Although the investigation is ongoing and it is unclear whether La Pierre suffered a medical emergency that caused or contributed to the accident, it is clear that La Pierre was the cause of the accident, and therefore no criminal charges will be filed."
Another fatal crash on Friday, Oct. 4, was determined to be the fault of a motorcycle driver who "went through the steady red light," crashing into an SUV that was turning.
The motorcyclist, 34-year-old Jorge Pickett of Bethlehem, died from multiple blunt force injuries and the driver and passenger of the vehicle suffered serious injuries.
That crash happened at West Saucon Valley Circle and Center Valley Parkway in Upper Saucon Township
"There have been media inquiries into the status of fatal/serious accident and crash investigations and we are releasing these details to make the public aware of the serious consequences that occur when someone is driving recklessly or speeding," Holihan's office said. "Not only do they put themselves at risk, but they endanger the lives of others not engaging in risky behavior."
