Thorpe man charged in Franklin crash

A Jim Thorpe man has been charged for his role in a two-car crash in Franklin Township that resulted in two people being severely injured.

John Boyd, 56, faces charges on two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, following too closely, careless driving and reckless driving.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by the Pennsylvania State Police at Lehighton:

At 12:58 a.m. April 7, police were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash in the area of Interchange Road near Rock Street, Franklin Township.

A black BMW was off the side of the roadway facing west with disabling damage to the front passenger fender area. A man was standing outside it. A black Yamaha on the side of the road also had disabling damage. A man and woman were laying on the roadway.

The man and woman appeared to be seriously injured. They said they were on their motorcycle when they were struck from behind by the BMW while they were attempting to turn right onto Rock Street from Interchange Road on their way to Rider’s Resort campground on Rock Street.

While attempting to interview the driver of the motorcycle, police detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage. They were treated on scene and transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital — Cedar Crest.

Police interviewed the man standing near the BMW, who was identified as Boyd, who said that he was traveling in the northbound direction of Interchange Road when the motorcycle entered the roadway from Rock Street, and that he didn’t have enough time to stop and he struck the motorcycle.

Police detected a strong odor of alcoholic emanating from his breath, and noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his speech was slow and slurred. Boyd said he had been drinking at Ruby’s Saloon.

A preliminary breath test showed 0.148 percent alcohol, and Boyd was taken into custody.

Police saw debris from the motorcycle scattered on Interchange Road starting at about 50 to 75 feet from the intersection of Rock Street in the westbound direction, as well as gouge and skid marks on the roadway. The initial impact occurred in the northbound lane of travel of Interchange Road well before the intersection with Rock Street.

Six unopened cans of Genesee brand beer were on the roadway in the area of the crash.

Boyd was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital — Lehighton, for a blood draw, but he refused and was transported to his residence and released.

The woman said that she and the man had been at Sapore Restaurant before the crash, and had left to travel to Rider’s Resort campground. She said they were traveling at 30 mph in the right hand northbound lane of Interchange Road and slowing down while approaching a right hand turn onto Rock Street. She said the BMW struck them from the rear, knocking the motorcycle to the ground and throwing both her and the man from the vehicle.

According to the medical records, the man sustained two fractured vertebrae, a fractured coccyx, a lacerated spleen, and a broken nose. The woman sustained multiple fractured ribs, a lacerated spleen, a collapsed lung and other injuries.

The man told police he didn’t recall speaking with or interacting with Boyd, other than recalling that Boyd was cursing aloud while standing roadside after the crash.

Both the man and woman are still being treated at Lehigh Valley Hospital — Cedar Crest for injuries sustained during the incident.

Boyd is scheduled to have a preliminary arraignment May 14 before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton.