A 2007 Jeep Commander and a Deka tractor trailer truck collided on Park Road and E. Wessner Road in Maidencreek Township at 12:21 p.m. on April 25. Blandon and Temple fire companies extricated Austin Heister, Shillington, from the Jeep. Northeast Regional Ambulance transported Heister to Reading Hospital for injuries.
Northern Berks Regional Police Department Det. Sgt. Brian Horner, Officer in Charge, reported that Heister was driving southbound on Park Road when he fell asleep and drifted to the side of the road and into a swale. He woke up but at that point he had lost control of his vehicle and crossed into the opposite lane of traffic.
Blake Steffy of Fleetwood, driver for East Penn Manufacturing, was driving a Deka tractor trailer truck and attempted to swerve to avoid striking Heister’s vehicle but the tractor trailer truck’s front end struck the passenger side of the Jeep, which upon impact rolled onto its passenger side.
Heister was entrapped in his vehicle. Firefighters from Blandon and Temple fire companies extricated him from the Jeep. Northeast Regional Ambulance transported Heister to Reading Hospital for injuries. Steffy was not injured.
Heister received citations for violating the following: driving on roadways laned for traffic, driving vehicle at safe speed and driving while under suspension.
Bern Township Police Department assisted Northern Berks Regional Police.
V&M Towing removed both vehicles from the scene.
