{"id":4487,"date":"2025-10-16T18:56:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T18:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/4487\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T18:56:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T18:56:10","slug":"dui-hit-and-run-bethlehem-driver-charged-after-woman-left-in-coma-cops-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/4487\/","title":{"rendered":"DUI hit-and-run: Bethlehem driver charged after woman left in coma, cops say"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Bethlehem<\/a> man has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash last summer in the city that left a 24-year-old woman in a coma.<\/p>\n

Leroy Mendez, 37, is charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault; felony accidents involving personal injury; felony fraudulent insurance claim; misdemeanor reckless endangerment; two counts misdemeanor drunken driving, and related offenses.<\/p>\n

Mendez was arraigned Tuesday before Jordan A. Knisley, who set bail at $250,000. In lieu of bail, Mendez was sent to Northampton County Prison.<\/p>\n

Bensalem, Bucks County-based attorney Gail Nicolina Marr, representing Mendez, couldn\u2019t immediately be reached for comment Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

City police responded just after 1:30 a.m. July 19 to the area of Adams and East Fourth streets for a report of a woman struck by a fleeing red Mazda. <\/p>\n

Investigators learned the pedestrian was standing legally next to a parked car when struck. The Mazda driver also struck two other parked cars, one of which was occupied at the time, police said.<\/p>\n

The victim suffered life-threatening injuries, which included a traumatic brain injury, multiple broken bones and a partial foot amputation, city police said.<\/p>\n

The victim remains in a coma today at St. Luke\u2019s University Hospital in Fountain Hill.<\/a><\/p>\n

Investigators said they were able to identify Mendez as the driver of the 2016 MazdaCX-3 through witness testimony and surveillance video footage from the crash scene.<\/p>\n

Investigators said they found the damaged Mazda parked behind Mendez\u2019s city home. Vehicle parts recovered from the accident scene matched the damaged car at the home, city police said.<\/p>\n

Mendez allegedly admitted to investigators in an interview to drinking alcohol in celebration of his birthday prior to the crash. A test revealed his blood-alcohol content level that morning was 0.126%. Penalties in Pennsylvania start at 0.08%.<\/p>\n

Mendez reportedly admitted to being intoxicated and striking the victim, police said. He is accused of filing a false insurance claim about the accident.<\/p>\n

Mendez is due back in court for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 7 before Knisley. A judge will then determine if there\u2019s sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial at the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.<\/p>\n

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