Teen spent final moments looking out for others, priest says
BY SUSAN BRYANT
The community is mourning the tragic loss of an Allentown Central Catholic High School student who died Dec. 5.
Ryan Carbone, 16, of South Whitehall Township, was struck by a tractor-trailer 4:45 a.m. Saturday on Route 22 East at Route 309 South, South Whitehall.
Lehigh County Coroner Eric Minnich said Carbone had exited his 2013 Hyundai Elantra, which had been in a collision with another tractor-trailer.
Father Mark R. Searles, chaplain and director of Campus Ministry with Allentown Central Catholic High School, spoke with The Press Dec. 7 about Carbone.
“He was a fun loving, humorous and joyful kid. Everyone liked to be around him,” Searles said. “He had a great sense of humor and he could make anyone laugh.”
Searles said Carbone was a Boy Scout with Troop 439, which meets at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Allentown.
“In addition to him being a Boy Scout, he was captain of the Science Olympiad Team and a member of the track and field team at school,” Searles added.
Carbone was also a Sacristan who helped with special events, school Mass and fairs.
“He was very helpful whenever we needed help,” Searles stated.
“He was very giving of his time.”
Searles said he learned these traits from his big family, which is also involved in their Catholic church and community.
“Even in his final moments he showed a concern for the well-being of others,” Searles said.
Searles said Allentown Central Catholic will be providing extra counselors and support for students and an additional prayer service this week for Carbone.
Carbone was pronounced dead 7:21 a.m. Dec. 5 by Lehigh County Deputy Coroner Gabrielle Alcaro.
The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries due to a pedestrian/motor vehicle accident, Minnich said.
He said he ruled Carbone’s death an accident.
According to State Police Troop M, Fogelsville, this multi-vehicle, commercial motor vehicle crash occurred as Carbone’s car was eastbound on Route 22 in the left lane, attempting to pass a Freightliner tractor-trailer combo traveling in the right lane.
After passing the tractor-trailer, the car began to spin, striking the driver’s side fuel tank of the Freightliner and coming to a stop on the dashed lines separating the left and right lanes.
According to police, the car had no emergency equipment or lighting equipment on after the collision.
Police say Carbone got out of his car and was standing in the left travel lane as a second tractor-trailer, a Peterbilt, approached in the right lane.
According to police, the Peterbilt tractor-trailer combo swerved to the left to avoid striking the disabled car, and struck Carbone in the left lane, before it came to stop after impact on the left shoulder.
Police say a third tractor-trailer, a Freightliner approached the scene in the right lane and attempted to swerve to avoid striking the car, ultimately striking it before hitting the Peterbilt tractor-trailer combo on the left shoulder.
Route 22 eastbound was closed at the scene with traffic being rerouted onto Tilghman Street, police say.