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Driver Charged in Route 222 Crash That Killed Two Walnuttown Fire Chiefs

An accidental manner-of-death ruling does not block the criminal case now taking shape.

Overview

  • Fire chiefs Jeff Buck and Robert Shick Jr. died Saturday during a missing-woman search when their UTV on the shoulder of Route 222 was hit head-on by a southbound sedan.
  • Police identified the driver as 26-year-old Alexander Sepulveda-Rivera of the Bronx and took him into custody after he and a passenger ran from the crash and were found on Krause Road.
  • Charging documents filed Sunday detail 21 counts, including two counts of homicide by vehicle while DUI, involuntary manslaughter, DUI, driving without a license, and failure to stop and render aid.
  • Investigators say Sepulveda-Rivera admitted he fell asleep, had smoked marijuana that morning, and owned a crack pipe found in the car, with toxicology results still pending.
  • The Lehigh County coroner ruled the deaths accidental and a procession returned the chiefs home Monday, as Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags at half-staff across Pennsylvania.