By Matthew Reichl, Item Editor

On Friday, Sept. 25, Tilden Township Police Department issued a criminal complaint and affidavit for Kyle Rehrig, 18, of Mohrsville, after a six-month investigation of the vehicle death of Taylor Seitzinger on March 12.

Seitzinger, of Shoemakersville, a Hamburg Area High School senior and stand out athlete, was pronounced dead at Reading Hospital on March 19 at 4:35 p.m. after being transported via helicopter from the scene of the vehicle crash around the 900 block of Hex Highway just west of Walnut Road at 10:15 p.m., March 12.

According to police reports, the complaint and affidavit were filed on Sept. 25 against the driver, Kyle Thomas Rehrig, before the magistrate district judge Gloria Stitzel in Hamburg, after the completion of a six-month investigation into the motor vehicle crash in which Seitzinger died as a result of the crash.

The charges include involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence while under the age of 21, with a blood alcohol content of 0.03 percent, recklessly endangering another person, driving the vehicle allegedly at 59 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour zone, driving in the wrong lanes, failure to wear a seat belt, reckless driving and possession of an alcoholic beverage under the age of 21.

Rehrig was originally transported to Reading Hospital via ambulance.

The other two passengers were taken to hospitals but were released soon after. Kody Boltz, 18, of Leesport, was in stable condition at Reading Hospital. Nicole Wessner, 17, of Bethel was treated and released from St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

As previously reported, Boltz and Wessner were in the back seats of the 1993 Volkswagen sedan driven by Rehrig, belonging to Debra Rehrig, with Seitzinger in the front passenger’s seat.

The Volkswagen was traveling west on Hex Highway, when for unknown reasons, left the west bound lane, traveling into the east bound lane and drove up an embankment causing the vehicle to turn onto the roof, according to police reports.

Rehrig, Seitzinger and Wessner were ejected from the vehicle.

State police alleged none of the occupants were wearing their seatbelts.

Seitzinger was trapped underneath the Volkswagen as police and fire officials, with the assistance of about six citizens, helped lift the vehicle so she could be freed, including William Readinger, Sr., 48, and his son, Zacahary Readinger, 17, both of Hamburg.

Assisting Tilden police were the Hamburg Borough Police, Hamburg Fire Company, Shartlesville Fire COmpany, hamburg Ambulance and Schuylkill County Ambulance.

Agencies involved in the investigation were the Tilden Township Police Department, Berks County Detective Forensic Services Unit, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Berks County Coroner’s Office.