A preliminary hearing scheduled Wednesday for a delivery driver who struck and seriously injured Jim Thorpe's fire chief, who was observing a race, was continued until Oct. 24.

Steven M. Schock, 36, of Lehighton, had his hearing scheduled before District Judge Edward Lewis of Jim Thorpe. Schock has been charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle, two counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, careless driving, and driving on right side of roadway.The charges stem from an incident which occurred on July 7 at about 10:25 a.m. in the area of the Jim Thorpe water filtration plan along Lentz Trail. They were filed by Sgt. Michelangelo S. Bokeko of the Jim Thorpe Police Department.Injured was Jim Thorpe Fire Chief William H. Diehm, who sustained numerous fractures.According to the affidavit, Schock had a blood-alcohol content of .154 percent, which is nearly double the .08 legal limit in Pennsylvania. He was driving a UPS van when the accident happened.According to the affidavit, Patrolman Daniel Long of the Jim Thorpe Police Department was the first officer on the scene. A witness told Long, the affidavit said, that "he observed the UPS van, traveling east, swerve into Diehm's vehicle that was parked off the south side of the eastbound lane."The impact, the witness added, caused Diehm "to barrel roll across the driver's side of his vehicle between the UPS van and his vehicle."Schock told police that he saw the runners running.The affidavit says, "Schock stated that he moved over and kept traveling east when he heard a noise. Schock stated he stopped the van and got out to check. Schock stated that he then observed a male lying behind his van."While conversing with Schock, Long detected "a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from his facial area," says the affidavit. "Long then asked Schock to perform a series of field sobriety tests, which he did."Diehm had told Long that he was standing by his vehicle taking photos of the runners when the UPS truck swerved into him. Diehm was wearing a reflective vest at the time he was struck.Schock is currently free on $50,000, 10 percent bail.