Driver in wrong lane on Route 22

State Police Troop M Bethlehem say Joseph C. Hoch, 36, of Whitehall, was driving a 2004 Dodge SLT eastbound in the westbound travel lanes of Route 22, east of Cedar Crest Boulevard 10:43 p.m. July 26. Police allege Hoch's headlights were off and he was traveling at a high rate of speed.

Hoch's vehicle struck a 2001 Chevrolet driven by Dennis R. Weaver, 62, of Denton, Md., and a 2011 Acura MD-X driven by Marlene Fares, 34, of Reading, head on, which were both traveling in the westbound travel lanes.

Both Hoch's and Fares' vehicles came to a final rest fully blocking all westbound travel lanes of Route 22, a mile west of 15th Street.

Weaver was unable to bring his vehicle to a stop due to brake failure as a result of the crash and continued to travel west for 500 yards before coming to a final rest.

A 2000 Ford Focus driven by Ryan M. Pizzuto, 21, of New Tripoli, which was also traveling in the westbound lanes of Route 22, was unable to stop before hitting Hoch and Fares' vehicles.

Additional vehicles, possibly involved in minor crashes with Hoch's vehicle, prior to the crash were also being investigated.

Hoch, Weaver, Fares and Pizzuto's vehicles all received heavy damage, including deployed air-bags and leaking fluids.

They were all removed by Hauser's Towing.

Hoch, Weaver and Fares along with three passengers in Fares' car, Adman Fares, 35, a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old, all of Reading; and Amber Tokarzk, 21, of New Tripoli, a passenger in Pizzuto's car, were all transported by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.