Passenger Killed In High-Speed Crash On Route 22 ID'd: PA State Police Bethlehem

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A high-speed crash on Route 22 killed a 27-year-old Wind Gap man and injured a driver in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Friday, May 30.

Joey Anthony Vega II, known to loved ones as “Boobie,” was identified as the front-seat passenger killed in the crash, according to a statement released by the Northampton County Coroner’s Office on Friday. His cause of death was Multiple Blunt Force Trauma, and the manner was ruled Accidental, Coroner Zachary Lysek said.

“It is with all the sadness in the world that I write this post. I never thought I would have to say goodbye to you. You are an amazing son and you will be missed. Sleep in Peace my beautiful boy Joey Anthony Vega II...aka Boobie,” a family member wrote in a heartbreaking public tribute on Facebook.

The crash happened when a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 attempted to pass a 2015 Ford Escape at a high rate of speed in the right westbound lane of US Highway 22 near mile marker 326.1 at 9:36 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, according to Trooper Ryan Hari of PSP Bethlehem.

The Mercedes-Benz side-swiped the Ford at the 7 o’clock position, causing the Benz to veer off the road and slam into a tree. The Ford came to a stop in the left travel lane.

Multiple fire departments and EMS arrived before state troopers. Vega was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz was transported to St. Luke’s Bethlehem for treatment by Northampton Regional EMS.

State Route 22 Westbound was temporarily closed Friday morning while the PSP Troop M Collision Analysis Reconstruction Unit conducted a follow-up investigation. Traffic was diverted to Route 512 by PENNDOT for about an hour. Eastbound lanes remained unaffected.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Trooper Nathan T. Branosky at nbranosky@pa.gov.