BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — A fatal, three-vehicle crash on Route 22 Thursday morning was caused by a pickup driver going the wrong way, state police said.
On Friday, Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek identified the person who died as John Michael Woodburn, a 22-year-old from Bethlehem who was operating a 1997 Honda Civic.
The cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was ruled an accident, Lysek said.
Upon arrival at the crash scene shortly after 10:40 a.m., troopers determined two pickup trucks and a passenger vehicle were involved in the crash in the highway's eastbound lanes, according to Trooper Nathan Branosky of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Woodburn was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner.
The two other drivers were transported to St. Luke's Anderson for their injuries, Branosky said. In a release Friday, he identified those drivers as a 58-year-old man from Summit Hill who was driving the wrong way in a red Silverado, and a 76-year-old man from Wind Gap who was driving a black Silverado.
The Summit Hill man traveled southbound on Route 33 North and got off at the Route 22 interchange, heading west onto Route 22 East, according to the report.
State police are looking for witnesses to the crash.
"Anyone who may have observed the red Chevrolet Silverado traveling prior to the crash or have video of the vehicle traveling the wrong direction, is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police Bethlehem Station at 610-861-2026 and reference Incident Number PA2023-1306267," he said.
The crash remains under investigation.
Troopers on scene of a fatal crash SR 22 EB at SR 33, Bethlehem Twp. All traffic is being detoured from SR 22 EB to SR 33 SB. SR 22 WB is open. Expect heavy delays on SR 22 EB. @lehighvalley @LVNewsdotcom @mcall @wfmztraffic pic.twitter.com/RzwSEoQMEK
— Trooper Branosky (@PSPTroopMPIO) October 5, 2023
The closure came a day after Interstate 78 was shuttered more than six hours by a four-vehicle crash in Upper Macungie Township.
Friday morning, a four-vehicle crash also caused heavy delays on Route 22 in Lehigh County, dispatchers said.
