A 22-year-old Mohrsville motorcyclist died as the result of a fatal accident involving a tractor trailer semi truck.
Tilden Township Police responded to the fatal motor vehicle crash at 7:22 p.m. on Oct. 18 at State Route 61 southbound and Ramp “E” Interstate 78 westbound, Tilden Township.
Investigating Township Officer Peter Witman reports that motorcyclist Wayne Michael Wetzel, 22, Mohrsville, was traveling southbound on State Route 61 approaching a traffic signal at Ramp “E” to Interstate 78 westbound. Michael Ray Kaiser, 35, Reedy, WV, driving a tractor trailer semi truck with trailer was traveling northbound on State Route 61 approaching the same intersection.
Both units faced a steady green signal.
The semi truck turned left across the southbound lanes of State Route 61 to enter Ramp “E” to proceed west on Interstate 78. The motorcycle impacted with the right rear section of the trailer towed by the semi truck, reports Witman.
Witnesses at the scene reported to police that Wetzel was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to the police report.
Wetzel was wearing a helmet. He was transported to Reading Hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead at 10:40 p.m.
The truck driver, Kaiser, was not injured.
The investigation is ongoing. The Berks County Crash Reconstruction Task Force is assisting with the investigation. PA State Police assisted on scene.