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Driver Loses Control, Strikes 3 Pedestrians Watching Cars Race In Lehigh Valley: DA

Three people were injured — one seriously — after a driver allegedly lost control of his car, striking them in the Lehigh Valley last year, authorities said.

Allentown police

Allentown police

 Photo Credit: Allentown PD
Nicole Acosta
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Jorge Ramon Torres, 24, of Allentown, was behind the wheel of a Honda Civic that struck three people watching cars race on North Dauphin Street and Allentown Drive on Nov. 26, 2021, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca.

Responding officers found the injured victims at the scene around 10:40 p.m., along with an unoccupied, disabled Honda Civic with no license plate, police said.

Police later discovered that members of the "Lehigh Valley Car Meets & Car Shows" Facebook group had gathered in the area where the crash happened to watch vehicles race up and down the road, they said.

One victim “was struck with such force, he was launched into a neighboring business sign” and suffered numerous broken bones and internal damage, the DA and police chief said. 

Torres gathered documents from the glove compartment after the crash, wiped down the inside of the car in an attempt to destroy fingerprint evidence, and removed the license plate, authorities said. Then, an uninvolved driver picked up Torres and fled the scene.

Investigators later learned Torres had bought the Honda Civic just hours prior to the crash, they said. 

Torres and the previous car owner were seen on video filling out paperwork to buy the car, which was captured by a notary and a local police department. Torres was also seen in a video at the crash scene wearing the same jacket as in the notary video, police said.

The previous owner said that Torres had asked him about racing, according to police.

Torres' family members allegedly told police that he hadn't returned home and that they didn't know where he was in the weeks following the crash.

Torres was charged with the following:

  • Aggravated Assault by Vehicle
  • Accidents Involving Death or Personal Injury
  • Accidents Involving Death or Personal Injury While Not Properly Licensed
  • Accidents Involving Death or Personal Injury While Not Properly Licensed – Personal Injury
  • Tampering With or Fabricating Physical Evidence
  • Driving While Operating Privilege is Suspended or Revoked – DUI/ARD 
  • Racing on Highways
  • Reckless Driving

Torres was in custody at Lehigh County Central Booking awaiting arraignment.

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