A Friday afternoon crash on Route 22 in Northampton County that officials say was caused by a chunk of ice flying off a vehicle is prompting an urgent reminder for motorists to fully clear ice and snow from their vehicles.
The single-vehicle crash occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Route 22 westbound in Bethlehem Township when the ice smashed through the windshield of another vehicle, resulting in the driver being sent to the hospital, according to a Facebook post by the Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company. .
In the post, the fire company gave motorists a stern reminder that they are legally responsible for removing all ice and snow from their vehicles.
“We cannot emphasize enough that it is the driver’s responsibility — and a legal requirement — to remove snow and ice from their vehicle,” the department said. “This incident could have been much worse, luckily the driver was transported to the hospital with only minor injuries.”
The fire company reminded motorists about Christine’s Law, state legislation passed in 2022 in honor of Christine Lambert, a Palmer Township resident who died in 2005 after ice fell from a truck and smashed through the windshield of her vehicle on Route 209 in Carbon County on Christmas Day.
Under the law, drivers can be fined $50 for not clearing their vehicles, even if no snow or ice falls off. If snow or ice falls from a vehicle and causes death or serious injury, the driver can be fined up to $1,500.