EASTON, Pa. — Officials will not file charges in a crash that killed a motorcyclist last month, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta announced Tuesday.
Easton Police crash investigators determined that the motorcyclist, who has not been named, was driving aggressively at 12:45 p.m. July 5 when he ran off of westbound Route 22 between the 4th Street and 13th Street exits in Easton and hit a guardrail.
The crash was caused "by the negligence of the deceased motorcyclist."
Statement by Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta
He died of blunt force injuries, Baratta's statement said.
Just before the crash, the motorcyclist "aggressively engaged” with an Audi car carrying a male driver and a female passenger on Route 22, according to a statement from the district attorney’s office.
But the other driver “did not attempt to engage” and was not at fault in the crash, the statement said.
The investigation revealed the motorcyclist lost control of his vehicle after he reached out to grab the side mirror of the Audi, it said.
The crash was caused "by the negligence of the deceased motorcyclist," it said.
The decision followed a "complete investigation" that include independent witness interviews and video surveilance, the statement said.
The announcement comes as three other motorcyclists were killed in fatal crashes just last weekend in Lehigh and Northampton Counties; all three wrecks are still under investigation.