As State Police Troop M, Bethlehem, were clearing a three-vehicle, hit and run around 9:44 a.m. Aug. 16 on Route 22 West at Cedar Crest Boulevard, South Whitehall, a firefighter with one of South Whitehall’s fire departments reported seeing a suspicious device that looked similar to a pipe bomb.

As a result, the Allentown Fire Department Bomb Squad and the Pennsylvania State Police Hazardous Device and Explosive Section responded.

Traffic on Route 22 West was closed temporarily while the device was removed by HDES to a field near Wehr’s Mill Dam, South Whitehall.

There it was determined the device was not a pipe bomb.

Lehigh County HazMat Team assisted at the scene.

South Whitehall Township Police Chief Glen Dorney emailed The Press the following comment on Aug. 19.

“The only thing I can comment on is that the scene is safe and has been remediated with no danger to the public,” he stated.

Dorney also offered the following comments to The Press on Aug. 26.

According to Dorney, while caring for a crash victim, a firefighter noticed a pipe along the highway which had the appearance of a pipe bomb, and he alerted state police on the scene.

“It was discovered to have contained a small amount of mercury,” Dorney stated. “It may have been used by a plumber or someone who repairs devices that use mercury switches as a depository for excess mercury.”

The only information from state police regarding the hit and run stated a driver from one of the vehicles in the crash was transported by Cetronia Ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, for injuries.