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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Charges filed in Race Street deaths

A Nazareth woman has been charged with two counts each of homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter and four counts each of aggravated assault by motor vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed and reckless endangerment, in connection with a Sept. 10, 2012 collision on Race Street, Catasauqua.

A news release from Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin and the Pennsylvania State Police announced the filing of charges against 27-year-old Caitlyn L. Clark, who told a state police officer she was talking on her cellphone before her SUV swerved off the road and struck four people at a LANTA bus stop near the intersection with Cascade Drive.

Elias Tabarani, 51, of Allentown, was pronounced dead at the scene, and 28-year-old Angel Boach of Easton died later at St. Luke's Hospital. Injured were Angel Guerrido-Lopez, 38, and Lawrence Oyster, 37, both of Allentown.

A state police investigation determined the four men were standing on the south side of Race Street when a Nissan Pathfinder operated by Clark, traveling east on Race Street, crossed the white fog line on that side of the road and struck them.

Witnesses told police that prior to that, they saw the car swerve twice, crossing the fog line and weaving within the eastbound lane.

According to the police criminal complaint, a man who approached the victims to offer assistance told police Clark told him she was on the phone and that "she only looked away for a moment prior to crashing."

At the accident scene, a Nissan Pathfinder was seen having come to a stop at the chain link fence that surrounds Lehigh Valley International Airport property along the south side of Race Street.

A utility pole had been struck and there were no skid marks visible on the roadway.

Clark's driving privileges had been suspended at the time of the crash. She is also charged with driving on a suspended license and reckless and careless driving. She was arraigned Tuesday by District Judge Michael D'Amore and released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

No date has been set for a preliminary hearing.