Crime & Safety

Bethlehem Township Woman Killed in Route 33 Crash

Melissa Garrigan, 41, was killed Sunday morning in a crash on Route 33 in Plainfield Township.

A Bethlehem Township woman was killed Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash on Route 33 in Plainfield Township, according to State Police in Belfast.

According to police, Melissa Garrigan, 41, of the 3900 block of Bruce Lane was driving her 2009 Subaru Forester in the left southbound lane -- between the Belfast and Stockertown exits -- around 8am.

Garrigan attempted to pass a 2000 Sterling AT9500 series, heavy duty truck driven by Leroy Altemose, 54, of Saylorsburg.

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Police say that an unknown portion of the passenger side of Garrigan's car struck the front driver's side wheel of Altemose's vehicle, sending her clockwise and over the west edge of the roadway.

The driver's side door of Garrigan's vehicle struck a tree, and she was pronounced dead at the scene by Northampton County coroner Zachary Lysek.

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Altemose was not injured, according to police.

State Police in Belfast were assisted by the , Plainfield Township EMS and Suburban EMS.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene by .


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