Carbon driver dies in Lehigh crash

A Carbon County man died yesterday after his vehicle left a Lehigh County road and crashed into a tree.

State police at Bethlehem identified the victim as Robert B. Heffelfinger, 79, of Palmerton.

According to troopers at 8:13 a.m. Heffelfinger was driving a 2004 Toyota Camry westbound on Mountain Road in Washington Township, just east of the turnpike, and traveling too fast for conditions. He lost control of his car when it began to spin counter-clockwise.

The Camry then left the road and struck a tree about 20-30 feet from the road. After striking the tree, the car spun a second time and struck another tree where it came to rest.

Heffelfinger was pronounced dead as the scene by a member of the county’s coroners office. The investigation into the crash is continuing.