State police at Bethlehem - crashes
State police at the Bethlehem barracks reported the following crashes:
• Carter M. Birnbaum, 19, of Lehighton, and a 17-year-old girl from Whitehall had suspected minor injuries after a two-vehicle crash at 8:20 p.m. March 14 at the intersection of Weaversville Road with Airport Road, Hanover Township.
Police said the girl was transported by personnel from the Northampton Regional EMS corps to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg Campus, Bethlehem, while Birnbaum was not transported from the scene.
They said the crash occurred when Birnbaum, driving a 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan west on Weaversville Road, failed to stop for a steady red signal at the intersection with Airport Road and struck the front of a 2011 Mini Cooper driven by the girl. Upon impact, the Tiguan veered south, exited the roadway and lodged between a utility pole and wires. The Mini came to rest blocking the intersection.
Birnbaum was cited after the crash, according to police.
• Two vehicles had major damage and were towed from the scene of a crash at 7:05 a.m. March 9 on Route 873 in Washington Township.
Police said the crash occurred when a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox operated by Reynold C. Lorah, 83, of Slatington, traveling south hit the back of a 2010 Ford Escape driven by Christie L. Schirmacher, 37, of Slatington.
Police said Lorah had possible injuries and was transported by personnel from the Northern Valley ambulance to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest Campus, Salisbury Township.
They said Schirmacher and a passenger in her car, an 8-year old girl from Slatington, also had possible injuries but refused medical services transports from the scene. Two other passengers, two girls, ages 10 and 16, were uninjured.
• Police said a vehicle fled the scene after sideswiping a 1999 Plymouth at 1:41 p.m. March 10 on Mountain Road, Washington Township.
They said the vehicle was westbound when it traveled into the eastbound lane and struck the Plymouth, which was operated by Cindy J. DeLong, 74, of Slatington.
Police said DeLong had suspected minor injuries and was transported by personnel from the Northern Valley ambulance to the St. Luke’s Hospital, Carbon Campus, Franklin Township.
The Plymouth was towed from the scene.
• Moises Vargas, 47, of Slatington, was injured after a one-vehicle crash at 8:35 p.m. March 3 on Coffeetown Road, North Whitehall Township.
Police said he was transported by personnel from the Northern Valley ambulance to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest Campus, Salisbury Township.
Police said he was driving a 2019 Nissan Frontier northbound when it failed to maintain its lane of travel, veered off the road and traveled through a grassy area. They said Vargas attempted to merge back into his lane but the pickup slid on grass and struck a tree.
Police said Vargas was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
• Austin D. Kern, 23, of Lehighton, was uninjured after a one-vehicle crash at 12:38 a.m. Feb. 25 on Howertown Road, Allen Township.
Police said he was driving a 2010 Dodge Caliber northbound when it failed to maintain its lane of travel, went off the right side of the road and hit a tree.
Police said Kern fled the crash scene without notifying police of the crash.
The Caliber was towed from the scene.