A 24-year-old Monroe County man is accused of striking a girl and her grandmother in an Allentown crosswalk, seriously injuring both, and fleeing the scene.
Tyler Allan Monzietti of Tobyhanna is charged with felony aggravated assault by vehicle; felony accidents involving personal injury; misdemeanor accidents involving personal injury; and misdemeanor reckless endangerment, as well as summary traffic offenses.
Monzietti surrendered to police on Tuesday, after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arraigned before District Judge Michael D’Amore, who released him on his own recognizance.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announced the charges against Monzietti Tuesday afternoon. Court records did not immediately list an attorney for Monzietti, and a phone number listed for him was disconnected.
City police were called to North Sixth and West Hamilton streets on the afternoon of May 16 for a crash involving two pedestrians.
The driver was later identified as Monzietti, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office said.
Video surveillance cameras showed that around 5:40 p.m., Monzietti allegedly left a Allentown bar and restaurant at North Seventh and Hamilton streets, and entered his 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was parked on the south side of West Hamilton Street.
Just before the crash, Monzietti’s Jeep was stopped at a red traffic signal in the right lane of West Hamilton and North Sixth streets, but with his left-turn signal on, prosecutors said.
A Ford SUV was stopped at the same traffic signal in the left lane next to the Jeep. A child and her grandmother were standing at the northeast corner of the intersection waiting for the pedestrian signal to indicate that they had the right-of-way to cross, authorities said.
As the signal changed to the “walk” indicator, the child and grandmother entered the crosswalk on the north side of the intersection traveling westbound. Video surveillance showed that as the light turned green, Monzietti accelerated his Jeep rapidly from the right lane, while screeching the Jeep’s tires, authorities said.
Monzietti allegedly is shown on video illegally crossing in front of the Ford, which had started to move forward. He narrowly missed the Ford SUV, but continues to make the illegal left-hand turn into the intersection, where he struck the pedestrians, according to prosecutors.
Monzietti’s vehicle allegedly struck both victims with the front passenger corner, propelling them forward, where they landed in the street.
Video footage then shows Monzietti getting out of his vehicle and running over to the child, who was bleeding from her face, the DA’s Office said.
He then allegedly returns to the Jeep and flees, heading north on North Sixth Street.
Additional city surveillance cameras track the Jeep driving around for approximately 20 minutes before Monzietti returns to the crash scene, authorities said.
The girl suffered maxillary fractures, a mandibular fracture and had several teeth knocked out of her jaw. The grandmother suffered cuts to her hands, fingers and knees.
The child’s teeth were saved when a police officer preserved them in a glass of milk, the DA’s Office said.
Monzietti is due back in court for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for 3:15 p.m. June 30 before D’Amore. A judge will then determine if there’s sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial at the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.
The case was investigated by Allentown Police Officer Daniel Haas. It will be prosecuted by Lehigh County Chief Deputy District Attorney V. Paul Bernardino III.