Man charged with DUI in motor scooter crash that killed Allentown woman | Allentown Area

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Authorities say an SUV driver is facing charges in a crash that left a woman dead in Allentown.

Eliezer Julius Santiago, 22, of Allentown, faces multiple charges, including Aggravated Assault by Vehicle while Driving Under the Influence, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

The Allentown woman died after her motor scooter was involved in a crash with the SUV Friday night. Officials say the crash occurred at approximately 11:35 p.m. in the 1600 block of S. 4th Street in Allentown.

The Lehigh County Coroner’s office says the 42-year-old woman was pronounced dead on Saturday, at 3:01 a.m., in the Emergency Department at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest.

The woman was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to the coroner’s report.

The investigation showed the scooter as traveling southbound on South 4th Street and the victim had just proceeded through the intersection near Lexington Street with a group of two other motor scooter drivers, the DA’s office said.

According to the DA’s office, witnesses told investigators an SUV traveling behind the group of motor scooters hit the victim’s scooter from behind.

The DA’s office said the SUV driver then fled the scene. The driver was taken into custody a short distance away when he nearly hit a police vehicle responding to the scene of the crash, according to the news release.

Several witnesses told police that before the crash, Santiago’s vehicle had been driving erratically, the DA’s office said.

Authorities said city and business cameras also captured the entire crash.

Santiago is charged with felony charges of Aggravated Assault by Vehicle while Driving Under the Influence, Accidents Involving Death or Injury While Not Licensed; and misdemeanor and summary charges that include Driving Under the Influence, Careless Driving, Possession of Marijuana (Small Amount/Personal Use), Driving Without a License, Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Reckless Driving and Obstructing Administration of Law, the DA’s office said.

Santiago is in Lehigh County Jail under $500,000 bail.

After these charges were filed, the victim of the crash was pronounced dead, according to the DA’s office.

The DA’s office said additional charges reflecting the woman’s death will be filed in the near future.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office & Forensic Center to assist in determining the cause of death.

In addition to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office & Forensic Center, the Allentown Police Department and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office are investigating.

The DA’s office said criminal charges are pending against a different SUV driver in a crash that happened on the same night in Salisbury Township. The two crashes appear to be unrelated to each other, according to the DA’s office.