Two were declared deceased at the scene of an early morning crash on Route 222 in Maidencreek Township, and nine were sent to the hospital for injuries.
The truck driver who caused the crash was charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle after he allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and plowed into at several vehicles on Route 222, then struck more vehicles waiting to exit from a Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot, according to a Mercury Staff Report published online Nov. 19.
Tractor trailer driver Steven Bernier, 50, Reading, was driving a tractor trailer box truck for Cougle’s Recycling, Inc. in Hamburg.
“He told us he dozed off at the wheel,” said Northern Berks Regional Police Chief Scott Eaken.
On Route 222 north of Route 73 in front of the Dunkin Donuts, the tractor trailer truck struck stopped traffic on Route 222, veered across the highway and struck at least two vehicles at the Dunkin Donuts pushing vehicles into the Dunkin Donuts sign, according to Eaken, noting that about nine vehicles were involved. “It’s going to take months to reconstruct this. This was a mess.”
“We are charging the truck driver with multiple charges,” said Eaken, crediting a video of the accident made available to the District Attorney’s Office that made it possible to make charges so quickly.
In addition to homicide by vehicle charges, Bernier was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, nine counts of aggravated assault while driving and 10 counts of reckless endangerment, according to a police report published in the Mercury.
Local fire companies and ambulances were on the scene, including fire companies from Blandon, Temple, Walnuttown, Fleetwood and Leesport, and ambulances from Fleetwood, Muhlenberg, Blandon and Kutztown.
“I give big kudos to our volunteers,” said Eaken. “Especially in the adverse conditions with it being as cold as it is.”
Route 222 was closed most of the day.
“Traffic, needless to say, has been a mess,” said Eaken.