Careless driving

A Lower Macungie Township man was charged with careless driving and speeding after the vehicle he allegedly was driving struck a parked truck and a passenger in the vehicle was killed.

Walter C. Mitchell, 22, of the 5600 block of Wedge Lane, also is charged with roadways laned for traffic. All three charges are summary offenses.

In a press release from the Lehigh County Office of the District Attorney May 12, authorities noted Mitchell allegedly was eastbound in the right lane of Route 22 in Upper Macungie Township around 4:38 p.m. March 17 when his vehicle went off the road and struck a tractor-trailer truck parked on the right side of Route 22.

The truck was driven by James M. Balson, 69, of Allegheny County.

Mitchell's vehicle struck the rear of the tractor trailer truck.

Wayne Alan Leibensperger Jr., 21, of Salisbury Township, a front-seat passenger in the vehicle, was killed in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.

Balson's truck was legally parked at the time of the accident and was parked about five minutes.

Mitchell was found lying in the right lane of Route 22 and was treated at the scene. Leibensperger died of multiple traumatic injuries. Balson was seated in his truck at the time of the crash.

The investigation determined neither drugs nor alcohol contributed to the accident. Police said the roadway was dry at the time of the crash.