A Lehigh County woman faces felony charges in a September 2025 four-vehicle crash that seriously injured another driver, authorities say.
Hannah Lipkin, 24, of the 800 block of Lawrence Street in Salisbury Township near Bethlehem, was arraigned on 13 counts and released on $50,000 bond.
Lipkin’s aggressive driving while under the influence caused the wreck Sept. 7 on Riverview Drive (Route 145) in Lehigh Township, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta said in a news release Monday.
Lehigh Township police investigating the crash that occurred about 6:30 p.m. reviewed rear-facing dashboard camera footage that they say captured Lipkin’s driving and the collisions.
The video shows Lipkin make an illegal turn out of McDonald’s onto Main Street in Walnutport and merge onto southbound Riverview Drive behind the dash-cam vehicle, investigators said.
Lipkin can be seen driving onto the center yellow lines and shoulder, accelerating and tailgating, according to court records.
“During this, Lipkin’s vehicle was so close that the camera captures her taking both hands off the steering wheel, placing them on her head and appearing to yell,” the news release from Baratta’s office states.
Approaching Treichlers, in the 100 block of Riverview Drive, Lipkin crossed onto the northbound side of the road, according to police.
Her 2021 Hyundai Kona collided with a northbound 2025 Subaru Impreza, causing the Hyundai to also collide with a southbound 2025 Toyota Prius and northbound 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander, police said.
The driver of the Mitsubishi suffered numerous injuries including a femur fracture, nasal bone fractures, compression of a thoracic vertebra, fractures to the sacrum and pelvis, laceration of the kidney and bruises, according to court records.
Lipkin also was taken to an area hospital, where a blood draw showed levels of ethanol (alcohol), THC (the intoxicating component of marijuana), and cocaine and a cocaine byproduct, according to investigators.
She was arraigned Friday before District Judge Robert Hawke on felony counts of aggravated assault by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI; misdemeanor DUI charges; and summary vehicle offenses.
A bondsman posted $50,000 bail for Lipkin’s release, with a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for Dec. 30 to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial in the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.
Lipkin’s attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.
Monday’s release from the district attorney’s office states that “Baratta is committed to combating aggressive driving and road rage by prioritizing enforcement and accountability for dangerous driving behaviors.
“Speeding, tailgating, and weaving through traffic are aggressive driving behaviors that can reduce reaction time and endanger not only the driver, but also other motorists and pedestrians,” the statement continues.