BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Neighbors living near the scene of a deadly crash in Bethlehem say the intersection where it happened has been an ongoing nightmare.
The area has been the scene of two deadly crashes just this summer. The latest came Monday when a driver ran a red light, and hit and killed a man in the crosswalk.
Roadside memorials in the area stand for one of two people killed on this exact street back in June, as well as the victim of Monday night’s crash.
Some neighbors tell us daily speeding and red-light running have made this stretch simply too dangerous to walk.
“I did see that there were police securing off the area, and that there was a bicycle on the floor. So, you could tell something happened,” said Wilfredo Rivera, who saw the aftermath of the crash.
According to Bethlehem police, 24-year-old Gian Bajandas Correa was speeding onto Daly Avenue on Monday afternoon when he ran a red light and hit a car before striking 43-year-old Walter Taylor as he walked his bike through the crosswalk.
Taylor died at the hospital.
Bajandas Correa is being held on $250,000 bail.
But for those living nearby, this tragedy feels like a nightmare on repeat.
“It’s sad. This is like the second time it’s happened in this area,” Rivera said.
Just three months ago, two people were killed in a motorcycle and e-bike crash near the exact same spot.
Off-camera, multiple neighbors told us speeding is a constant battle, with one parent saying he no longer lets his kids walk near the street because of the reckless driving.
“I’m a blue collar guy. So it’s four in the morning, four at night, and there’s people always speeding up and down this street,” said Zach Romig, of Bethlehem.
“It’s a shame. I mean, people should know how to drive, and they should respect the privilege of it.”
The City of Bethlehem is currently drafting a multi-phase “complete streets plan” aimed at redesigning corridors like Daly Avenue to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
But longtime residents say new layouts won’t fix the issue if driver behavior doesn’t change.
“It’s more of a courtesy, a lack of courtesy nowadays. So, I mean, people are going to do what they want, and I don’t think there’s a lot of consequence for people’s actions,” Romig said.
“At the end of the day, life’s precious.”
One neighbor we spoke with off camera says they also want to see stricter enforcement around the casino corridor to force drivers to slow down before another family loses a loved one.
Bajandas Correa faces multiple charges including homicide by vehicle and reckless driving, with a preliminary hearing set for Sept. 25.