ALLENTOWN, Pa. - An Allentown man has been charged with homicide by vehicle in an Upper Macungie Township car crash nearly a year ago that killed a man and seriously injured a woman.
- A 20-year-old Allentown man has been charged with homicide after a car crash almost exactly a year ago in Lower Macungie
- The crash involved three cars, killed one man, and left a woman with serious injuries — though she survived
- Police say the accused man was speeding, and had THC in his system, the active ingredient in Cannabis
- The investigation was apparently delayed and complicated due to fire damage
John Frederick Fifield, 20, faces more than 10 charges in the three-car crash just before 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 2021, at Hickory Lane and Snowdrift Road.
Fifield was traveling more than 80 mph, and blood tests at the crash showed the presence of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, in his body, according to police.
According to Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin's office, the investigation was delayed and complicated because of fire damage from the car, which made calculating the speed and details of the crash more difficult for investigators.
Just before 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 of last year, Fifield crashed his Jeep Cherokee into two other vehicles at the intersection, according to a news release from Martin and Upper Macungie Township Police Chief Michael J. Sitoski.
According to the timeline of events, the driver of the first vehicle Fifield allegedly hit, Benjamin Bleiler, was pronounced dead at the scene. Martin said the coroner attributed his death to blunt force injuries.
A passenger in Bleiler's vehicle, Erin Bleiler, sustained injuries to her spine, ribs and face, but survived, according to the release.
The charges include homicide while driving under the influence and aggravated assault by vehicle, both second-degree felonies, and third-degree felony charges of homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle.