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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Passenger killed in two-vehicle crash

A 2015 Whitehall High School graduate was killed in a two-vehicle collision Jan. 14 at the intersection of Mauch Chunk and Overlook roads, Allentown.

Yasmine Tyrea (Allen) Woodruff, 22, of Bethlehem, was pronounced dead 9 p.m. Jan. 14 by Deputy Coroner Jason Nicholas. An autopsy was completed Jan. 15, according to Lehigh County Coroner Eric Minnich. He said the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

Amanda Ritter, 29, of Allentown, has been charged with one count each of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, a felony of the second degree; homicide by vehicle, a felony of the third degree; and involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Ritter is also charged with five counts of aggravated assault by a motor vehicle while driving under the influence, a felony of the second degree; six counts of accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed, a felony of the third degree; five counts of aggravated assault by a motor vehicle, a felony of the third degree; six counts of recklessly endangering another person, a misdemeanor of the second degree; and two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, both misdemeanors.

She is also charged with the following summary offenses: careless driving, maximum speed limits, reckless driving, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked and required financial responsibility.

According to Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin, the two-vehicle crash occurred approximately 8:16 p.m. Jan. 14.

When members of the Allentown Police Department arrived on the scene, they discovered a silver Saturn Vue in the southbound lane facing north and a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu in the southbound lane facing west. The front-seat passenger in the Chevrolet, Woodruff, was pronounced dead at the scene. All six of the other occupants in the vehicles were injured, with four sustaining life-threatening injuries.

Ritter was the driver of the Saturn. Also in the vehicle were Tyler Skulteti, 23, owner of the vehicle, and Antoine Thompson, 31, both of Allentown.

Keiana Allen, 19, of Whitehall, was the driver of the Chevrolet. There were two juveniles, also of Whitehall, in the back seat of the vehicle.

As a result of the investigation, it is alleged Ritter was grossly negligent, driving at a high rate of speed and was intoxicated when she struck the Chevrolet. In addition, she was not properly licensed at the time of the incident, according to Martin.

Ritter is currently in Lehigh County Jail on an earlier pending charge. She was arraigned Jan. 24 before Magisterial District Judge Patricia Engler. Bail was set at $250,000.