A man is facing homicide by vehicle and DUI-related charges after a crash killed two Berks County firefighters on Saturday, according to the Fleetwood Police Department. According to the court documents, multiple fire companies, search and rescue agencies and law enforcement officers were in the area searching for a missing 60-year-old woman when the deadly collision happened. Police said two Walnuttown Fire Company firefighters were riding a UTV on the shoulder of Kutztown Road near Krause Road when they were struck by a Toyota Camry just before 6 p.m. Investigators said both firefighters were still in the UTV when crews arrived. Police identified them as: Fire Chief Jeffory Buck, 60 Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick Jr., 56 Driver fled, court docs sayArriving crews found the Camry unoccupied against a pole with severe front-end damage, according to the documents. Witnesses told police the driver and passenger got out of the car and fled on foot after the crash. Investigators also said witnesses reported the Camry had been weaving through traffic before the collision. Police were called to Krause Road after a witness reported seeing the driver walking along the road. Officers arrested the driver, who police identified as Alexander Sepulveda Rivera, 26, of the Bronx, New York. Driver said he smoked, fell asleep, court docs saySepulveda Rivera told investigators that he smoked marijuana around 9 a.m. the day of the crash and admitted he had a crack pipe, according to the documents. Police said Sepulveda Rivera stated that he fell asleep while driving and that the crash woke him up. Based on the evidence, investigators determined that Sepulveda Rivera was driving under the influence at the time of the collision, according to the court documents. Police noted Sepulveda Rivera also did not have a license and had a warrant for his arrest. Both firefighters killed, coroner saysBuck and Shick were transported to Reading Hospital and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where they later died from blunt force injuries, according to the coroner. The coroner ruled both deaths accidental. “It should be noted that a medicolegal determination classifying the manner of death as accident does not preclude or impede any criminal charges that may be considered by law enforcement or the District Attorney’s Office,” the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office said. Charges filedSepulveda Rivera was charged with: Two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influenceTwo counts of homicide by vehicleTwo counts of accidents involving death or personal injuryTwo counts of accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensedDriving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substanceDriver required to be licensedDriving on roadways laned for trafficReckless drivingInvoluntary manslaughterCareless driving Driving a vehicle at a safe speedImmediate notice of an accident to the police departmentDuty to give information and render aid Shapiro orders flags to half-staffGov. Josh Shapiro has ordered all Commonwealth and United States flags on Commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds across Pennsylvania to fly at half-staff immediately to honor firefighters Buck and Shick, who were killed in the line of duty on April 4. Flags shall remain lowered to half-staff until the date of interment, which has not yet been announced.All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.
RICHMOND TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
A man is facing homicide by vehicle and DUI-related charges after a crash killed two Berks County firefighters on Saturday, according to the Fleetwood Police Department.
According to the court documents, multiple fire companies, search and rescue agencies and law enforcement officers were in the area searching for a missing 60-year-old woman when the deadly collision happened.
Police said two Walnuttown Fire Company firefighters were riding a UTV on the shoulder of Kutztown Road near Krause Road when they were struck by a Toyota Camry just before 6 p.m.
Investigators said both firefighters were still in the UTV when crews arrived. Police identified them as:
Fire Chief Jeffory Buck, 60 Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick Jr., 56
Walnuttown Fire Department
Fire Chief Jeffory Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick Jr.
Driver fled, court docs say
Arriving crews found the Camry unoccupied against a pole with severe front-end damage, according to the documents.
Witnesses told police the driver and passenger got out of the car and fled on foot after the crash. Investigators also said witnesses reported the Camry had been weaving through traffic before the collision.
Police were called to Krause Road after a witness reported seeing the driver walking along the road.
Officers arrested the driver, who police identified as Alexander Sepulveda Rivera, 26, of the Bronx, New York.
Driver said he smoked, fell asleep, court docs say
Sepulveda Rivera told investigators that he smoked marijuana around 9 a.m. the day of the crash and admitted he had a crack pipe, according to the documents.
Police said Sepulveda Rivera stated that he fell asleep while driving and that the crash woke him up.
Based on the evidence, investigators determined that Sepulveda Rivera was driving under the influence at the time of the collision, according to the court documents.
Police noted Sepulveda Rivera also did not have a license and had a warrant for his arrest.
Both firefighters killed, coroner says
Buck and Shick were transported to Reading Hospital and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where they later died from blunt force injuries, according to the coroner.
The coroner ruled both deaths accidental.
“It should be noted that a medicolegal determination classifying the manner of death as accident does not preclude or impede any criminal charges that may be considered by law enforcement or the District Attorney’s Office,” the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office said.
Charges filed
Sepulveda Rivera was charged with:
Two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influenceTwo counts of homicide by vehicleTwo counts of accidents involving death or personal injuryTwo counts of accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensedDriving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substanceDriver required to be licensedDriving on roadways laned for trafficReckless drivingInvoluntary manslaughterCareless driving Driving a vehicle at a safe speedImmediate notice of an accident to the police departmentDuty to give information and render aid
Shapiro orders flags to half-staff
Gov. Josh Shapiro has ordered all Commonwealth and United States flags on Commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds across Pennsylvania to fly at half-staff immediately to honor firefighters Buck and Shick, who were killed in the line of duty on April 4.
Flags shall remain lowered to half-staff until the date of interment, which has not yet been announced.
All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute.
See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.