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PA Dad ID'd After Fatal Motorcycle Crash On I-81: State Police
The motorcyclist killed in a crash on Interstate 81 was identified by the Pennsylvania State Police and his family on Monday, Sept. 2.
Glen "Jose" Leon Veliz, 38, of Reading, died at the scene of the crash near mile mark 82 on Interstate 81 South in East Hanover Township, Lebanon County at 5:16 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 31, PSP Jonestown Trooper Jordan Seiler detailed in the release.
Traffic was detoured at exit 85 in South Hanover Township, reopening around 9:19 p.m., according to a statement by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler and as Daily Voice previ…
Recent HS Grad Suffers 3rd Degree Burns On 85% Of Body, PA Community Rallies
An 18-year-old graduate of Emmaus High School has died as a result of burns from a bonfire, authorities said.
Julian Díaz died on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 4 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, after suffering bruns on 84 percent of his body, according to the Lehigh County Coroner.
"He was a funny loving caring son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend," his uncle, Jonathan Gring of Emmaus said on a GoFundMe page. "He always made everyone laugh and if you knew you were going to be around Julian, you knew you were in for some kinda entertainment."
The deadly incident occurred on Wednesday, …
'Large-Scale' Burglary Ring Targeted Homes In Lehigh Valley And Beyond, DA Says
Half a dozen people are charged in connection with a "large-scale" home burglary scheme, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.
At a press conference on Friday, April 26, prosecutors and law enforcement said an organized ring of thieves stole more than $160,000 in goods from homes in Lehigh, Berks and Northampton counties.
They also targeted at least one home in Warren Township, New Jersey, authorities said.
Beginning in 2019, a team of state and local police agencies began investigating burglaries and attempted burglaries in Allentown, Bethl…
Lehigh Valley Mom, 46, Was 'Vibrant Soul,' Loved Ones Recall
Catherine Blank of Emmaus died on Wednesday, Feb. 14 after she was reported missing by authorities. She was 46.
Blank was found near the railroad tracks along Indian Creek Road a little over a day after police reported her disappearance, the Lehigh County Coroner's Office has said.
Her cause and manner of death were pending further investigation following her autopsy on Feb. 16.
"Cathy, a vibrant soul known for her kindness, love for animals, and radiant smile, tragically lost her life under harrowing circumstances," said her brother Richard Blank on GoFundMe.
"Diagnosed…
Emmaus Woman Critical, BFF Killed In Crash During Road Trip To Arizona
A road trip of two best friends from Pennsylvania to Arizona ended in tragedy in Ohio.
Kamryn Setzer, an Emmaus native, and her best friend, Emily Stevens, had uprooted their lives and were en route to relocate to Arizona, when Stevens lost control of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra on Interstate 70 on Friday, Dec. 1, Columbus police said.
Their vehicle struck a guardrail near the exit to Interstate 71 and North Broad Street on the southbound side of the highway around 10:05 p.m., killing Stevens at the scene, said those who knew her on social media.
Meanwhile, Kamryn was hospitalized in cr…
Employee Embezzled $2.4 Million From Bucks Gaming Company, DA Charges
An employee at a Bensalem-based casino supply company is accused of writing hundreds of phony checks to pay himself millions of dollars, say prosecutors.
Michael Bull, 47, of Emmaus, surrendered to police on Monday, March 27, and was charged with multiple felonies related to theft, forgery, and identity theft, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said in a release.
In 2014, Bull began working at KGM Gaming in Bensalem, a firm that sells specialized seating, signage, and indoor fixtures for casinos, the DA said. He first came under scrutiny during a December 2022 audi…
27-Year-Old Woman Killed By DUI Driver In Slate Belt Crash: Police
A 27-year-old woman died and three others were hospitalized by a DUI driver who was driving erratically over the weekend in Lower Mount Bethel Township, authorities said.
Richard Schroeder Jr., 53, of Georgia, was heading south on State Route 611 when he veered into the right shoulder and then back on the road, hitting the driver's side corner of a northbound Subaru Crosstrek around 1:43 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, PA State Police said.
The Subaru slid backwards off the roadway and came to a rest on someone's lawn, where Mikaela M. Jones, of Emmaus, was pronounced dead, police said.
A 4-year-old …
Driver Surrenders In Crash That Killed Lehigh Valley Cyclist, Dad Of 3
The driver wanted in the crash that claimed the life of a beloved husband and dad of three last spring has surrendered to authorities, the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Anthony Rutch, 49, was arrested on charges of accidents involving death, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and other traffic offenses, court records show.
Rutch was behind the wheel of an Audi when he struck Alexander Zarnas, 36, on a bicycle on Mountain Road in Lower Macungie Township on March 9, 2021, WFMZ reports citing the DA's o…
Beloved Dad, Lehigh Valley HS Grad Kyle Heck Dies Suddenly At Age 24
Beloved father and Lehigh Valley high school graduate Kyle Matthew Heck died suddenly in Pittsburgh on Sept. 23 at the age of 24.
Born in Allentown, Heck graduated from Emmaus High School in 2015, his obituary says.
Heck had worked as a foreman at PowerHome Solar in Sarver and served as an acolyte and usher at St. John's UCC in Emmaus.
In his free time, Heck enjoyed fishing, hunting, model trains, NASCAR and the NY Giants.
Above all, he was remembered as a loving father to his son, Levi.
More than $4,300 had been raised on a GoFundMe for Heck’s funeral expenses, putting the family close…
AG: Lehigh County Man Forced Another To Illegally Buy 29 Firearms To Support Meth Habit
A pair of Lehigh County men were arrested for their roles in the illegal straw purchases of 29 firearms in an effort to make up for the debt related to one of the man's drug use, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office announced.
James Gleason, 38, of Emmaus, was instructed by Reynold Lewis, 37, of Allentown, to make straw purchases of firearms to pay back debt related to Gleason’s methamphetamine use, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.
Agents executed a search warrant on Lewis' hotel room and vehicle on May 3, and recovered one handgun, ammunition, firearm parts, and accesso…
Pennsylvania Lottery Winners Across 3 Counties Split $675K Jackpot
Three Pennsylvania lottery winners across three counties split a Cash 5 with Quick Cash jackpot worth $675,000.
The tickets from the Wednesday, March 31 drawing were sold at:
SHOP ‘n SAVE, 600 Market Place Drive, Oakdale, Allegheny County
Don’s Food Market, 217 E. Harrison St., Emmaus, Lehigh County
Dynamic Dollar, 6316 Woodland Ave., Philadelphia County
Each ticket matched all five balls drawn, 3-7-14-22-43.
Each winner will receive $225,000 each.
Each retailer will receive a $500 bonus for selling the winning tickets.
