Suspect sought in fatal crash

Whitehall Township police have an arrest warrant for a man charged with killing a bicyclist in May while driving high on cocaine, meth and other drugs.

Malcolm Nugent, 32, of the 600 block of Metz Street in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, was driving a sport utility vehicle when he hit and killed township resident Edwin Rodriguez, 60, at 5:53 p.m. May 1 in the 3700 block of Lehigh Street, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin’s office said Monday.

“Authorities have been unable to find Nugent,” the office said in a news release.

Nugent is charged with vehicular homicide while DUI, vehicular homicide and causing death or personal injury while not properly licensed and causing serious bodily injury or death, all felonies, along with unauthorized use of a vehicle, DUI, simple possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia possession, all misdemeanors. He’s also charged with citations including reckless driving, careless driving causing an unintentional death, crossing lanes and driving with a license suspended or revoked due to DUI.

Witnesses told police Nugent’s SUV crossed the northbound lanes and hit Rodriguez, who was standing with a bicycle on the sidewalk. In the vehicle was a backpack with heroin, meth and a scale with green residue, police said.

Blood test results showed drugs in Nugent’s system at the time of the crash, police said. The vehicle’s owner told police Nugent did not have permission to drive it. Police also learned his license was suspended.

Anyone with information on Nugent’s whereabouts is asked to call 610-337-5252.