Woman in critical condition after pair of Route 22 crashes

A 31-year-old Delaware woman remains in critical condition after a pair of multi-vehicle crashes Sunday afternoon onRoute22East in BethlehemTownship shuttered the highway for hours.

The crash that sent the 31-year-old woman to the hospital happened at 3:55 p.m. at mile marker 330.4, as state police were clearing a previous three-vehicle wreck.

Police say the first crash likely was caused by traffic slowing as drivers approached a construction zone near the Route 33 interchange.

The slowdown from the wreck then caused a second crash that involved five more vehicles, police say. The highway was closed for 5 ½ hours as crews cleared the crash and reconstructed the accidents. A Northampton County dispatcher on Sunday said there were roughly 15 injuries, though most of those involved were up and walking after the accidents.

The woman from Newark, was the most seriously injured and was found seated in the rear passenger side seat of a car. She was unconscious and trapped inside when police arrived. Police began performing CPR on her as they waited for an ambulance.

The Bethlehem Township Fire Department cut the woman from the car, and she was taken to St. Luke’s Bethlehem for treatment. She remains in critical condition in the hospital ICU, according to police.

Three other passengers in the same vehicle as the 31-year-old woman suffered minor injuries after a box truck failed to stop and slammed into the rear of their car.

Police did not release any names of those involved in the accidents or indicate if any charges are pending.