WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The township mayor said he’s hopeful traffic safety measures soon will be in place on a stretch of road where a 75-year-old Marine veteran died on Christmas Night.
Edward Tomcics was fatally struck by a car as he crossed Water Street in front of his home in the township’s Darktown section just before 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Neighbors say the road along the Lehigh River is plagued by speeding cars and it's getting worse.
“I’ve been corresponding with Water Street residents since I became mayor” this year, said Mayor Joseph J. Marx Jr.
“They asked me if I could do traffic calming or what I could do, and we appropriated enough money to purchase three digital speed warning signs.”
Marx said money for the signs is in the 2025 budget approved by township commissioners. One of the fixed, solar-powered signs is earmarked for Water Street in Darktown, he said.
“The only way you’re going to get help is to come out and speak your piece.”
Joseph J. Marx Jr., Whitehall Township mayor
On Thursday night, Marx said, he attended a vigil at the crash site and encouraged Darktown residents to go to the commissioners’ Jan. 13 meeting.
“The only way you’re going to get help is to come out and speak your piece,” Marx said in an interview Friday.
“Unfortunately in this country we’re not proactive. We’re reactive. We don’t act until something happens. It takes an unfortunate incident like this to have action taken. Everything costs money, but what’s more important, money or human lives?"
'True American hero'
Marx said he was especially saddened because like him, Tomcics was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He lived on Water Street his entire life.
“My heart bleeds for this family and the people of Darktown,” Marx said. “No one wants to see anyone get hurt. This was just a tragic event. I wish I could turn back the clock but I can’t.
“This gentleman was a true American hero. He served with the 5th Marines in Vietnam. They are renowned. I have the utmost respect for that gentleman. No loss of life is acceptable. It’s a terrible situation.”
Tomcics was thrown several feet after being hit by the car. His family rushed outside after hearing the collision and found him severely injured on the side of the road.
The investigation
There has been no word from township police on the crash or driver of the vehicle. An investigation is underway by township police, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, according to the coroner.
Neighbors said police administered field sobriety tests to the driver and left with him in a patrol car.
Marx said he could not comment on the investigation but said “the driver was very cooperative and he did everything by the book. He stopped, he rendered aid, he complied with police.”
According to Marx, township officials are well aware of complaints by Water Street residents about traffic safety. The road is narrow and doesn’t have sidewalks.
Before becoming mayor in 2024, Marx served nine years as a township commissioner, he said, including stints as president and vice president.
“They came before the board numerous times when I was a commissioner,” he said of Darktown residents. “I’m all about public safety, but I’m one of seven (as a commissioner). It’s complicated.
"They wanted speed bumps. It's a great idea, a great concept, but when you actually do it, it leads to more problems. I’m not belittling the idea in concept. But it’s a lot easier to talk about in concept than it is to actually do it.”
Other measures
The digital speed monitoring signs cost about $5,000 each and will be bought in the new year, Marx said. He wrote about them in the township’s winter newsletter, including them as part of a project he called “the Mayor’s Initiative.”
“I was successful in appropriating enough money to purchase three digital speed warning signs to introduce in areas that constituents have complained about speeding in their neighborhoods,” he wrote.
“To be fair to everyone, the signs can be easily moved, and they will be moved around throughout the Township, hopefully people will recognize them and slow down.”
In the wake of this week’s tragedy, he said, he plans to work with the township engineer and solicitor to see what else can be done.
“It’s going to have to go to the board and it’s going to have to be a board action,” he said.
The commissioners meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at the township municipal building at 3219 MacArthur Road.
Funeral services for Tomcics are set for Friday, Jan. 3, at Brubaker Funeral Home, 327 Chestnut St., Coplay.