In a press release date Jan. 8, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Coopersburg Police Chief Anthony Struss announced charges against a motorist in a crash in which a pedestrian was fatally injured.

Kirk Andre Chin Jr., 36, of Pottstown, is charged with misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving in the death of David Mayers, of Lower Macungie Township, according to authorities.

According to the press release, Chin surrendered and was free on $25,000 unsecured bail as of Jan. 8.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Jan. 23.

Authorities detailed the crash in which Mayers was fatally injured as follows:

Just before 3:30 a.m. April 13, 2025, Coopersburg Police were called to a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a pedestrian in the 300 block of South Third Street in the borough.

Police and paramedics helped the person who was struck by the truck, identified as David Mayers, who later died from his injuries.

An autopsy done by the Lehigh County Coroner determined Mayers, 35, died from “blunt force injuries due to pedestrian/motor vehicle collision,” according to the press release.

His death was ruled accidental.

Members of the Lehigh County Crash Reconstruction Team conducted an investigation, including review of multiple videos, a vehicle inspection of the tractor trailer, interviews with several witnesses, a visibility study and a full crash reconstruction.

Video footage included that taken by cameras at a local business and from the tractor trailer truck. The videos show Mayers crossing mid-block on state Route 309 from the direction of the Exxon gas station, 318 S. Third St., to the Executive Inn, 321 S. Third St.

There is no pedestrian crosswalk in that section of the road, according to authorities.

Video footage shows Mayers walking and talking and that he had a cellphone in his right hand. Mayers was dressed in dark clothing. At the location of the crash, lighting was poor and limited to ambient lighting from nearby businesses, according to investigators.

At the same time, Chin was northbound on state Route 309 in the right lane. Based on data from his tractor-trailer, Chin was driving at approximately 48 mph.

The speed limit at the described portion of the road is posted as 55 mph and transitioning to 35 mph.

Video from the interior of the tractor trailer shows Chin was driving with his head back and his eyes closed. Video footage shows Chin did not react or open his eyes until after his tractor trailer struck Mayers, according to authorities.

The Lehigh County Crash Reconstruction Team conducted a visibility study as part of the investigation.

The visibility study determined the tractor trailer’s headlights would have been visible to Mayers as he began to cross state Route 309 toward the Executive Inn. Mayers entered the tractor trailer’s lane approximately 3 seconds before impact, according to investigators.

The visibility study showed until that point, Mayers would not have been recognized as a pedestrian in the roadway to a driver in Chin’s location.

Mayers was approximately 200 feet from Chin’s tractor trailer.

A tractor trailer with a gross vehicle weight of 80,000 pounds traveling at 45-48 mph needs a total stopping distance of 273 feet. At the point Mayers became visible to Chin’s tractor trailer, there was insufficient distance for the tractor trailer to stop, authorities explained in the press release.

“The evidence clearly shows that Chin’s inattentive driving endangered others on the roadway that morning.

“However, it also shows that Mayers’ actions of crossing a dark Route 309, while dressed in dark clothing and entering the path of the tractor trailer was a factor in causing this crash. There is insufficient evidence to support charges other than those that have been filed,” according to the press release.