Overview
- Two Walnuttown fire chiefs riding a utility terrain vehicle on the shoulder of Route 222 were struck in a head‑on collision Saturday during a search for a missing woman in Richmond Township.
- Police identified the driver as Alexander Sepulveda‑Rivera, 26, who fled on foot with a passenger and was arrested nearby after witnesses reported swerving and a crash into a pole.
- Court records say Sepulveda‑Rivera told investigators he smoked marijuana earlier that day and fell asleep at the wheel, and officers reported finding a crack pipe and suspected marijuana, plus no valid license and an active warrant.
- Prosecutors charged him with multiple counts, including two counts of homicide by vehicle while DUI and related offenses, and he was arraigned Monday and jailed in Berks County.
- The Lehigh County coroner ruled the deaths accidental for medicolegal purposes, autopsies were scheduled, flags were ordered to half‑staff, and a Tuesday DA news conference will outline next steps in the investigation.