9/13/16
by News Department on 09/13/16Investigation into fatality continues...
The Tilden Township Police Department and the Berks County Crash Reconstruction Task Force is continuing to investigate a fatal motorcycle crash that claimed the life of a Lehighton man Sunday on Route 61.
Police identified the victim as 53 year old Dean Steigerwalt. The crash occurred at 2:26 p.m. at Route 61 in the northbound lanes south of the Interstate 78 exit going eastbound in Tilden Township, Berks County, as Steigerwalt was driving a 2013 Harley-Davidson with a passenger northbound on Route 61 when 82 year old Ursula Pohl, of Flemington, New Jersey, was driving a minivan. Police said just south of I-78, Pohl made a U-turn over a concrete median to go north on 61, causing Steigerwalt’s motorcycle hit the rear of the minivan.
Police said it is unknown at this time whether the U-turn was the primary cause for the crash.
Steigerwalt was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Ron Peters. The female passenger, whom police did not name but said is 52 and also from Lehighton, was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, with serious injuries. Pohl was not injured in the crash.
Police urge anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact the Tilden Township Police Department at 610-562-9001.
