Man charged in Whitehall Township crash that killed bicyclist, DA says

A Whitehall Township man is charged in a hit-and-run New Year’s Eve crash that killed a bicyclist on Route 145 in the township.

Harrison Odere, 51, was arraigned Wednesday on charges alleging he hit Nickolas Siegfried, then fled the scene. He is charged with homicide by vehicle, hit and run causing death or seriously bodily injury, and a misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Siegfried was crossing Route 145, which is MacArthur Road going from east to west from the westbound lane of Sutler Drive, about 1:15 p.m. Dec. 31 when he was hit by Odere’s SUV, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said in a news release. Witnesses told authorities that the vehicle did not stop, the DA said.

A responding township officer saw the SUV matching the description of the one involved about a half mile from the scene, according to the release. The vehicle had a smashed windshield, authorities said.

Investigators determined Odere did not stop at a steady red light, and did not try to brake or slow down before or after hitting Siegfried, the DA said.

Odere remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail. Odere’s attorney is listed as the Lehigh County Public Defender’s office, but he had not been assigned one as of Thursday morning.