Trucker charged in death of Birdsboro woman

Driver held for court following preliminary hearing

AMITY TOWNSHIP

A Dauphin County man faces vehicular homicide charges in the death of a Birdsboro woman in a 2022 crash on Route 422 that involved a tractor-trailer he was operating.

Leslie F. Thompson Jr. 53, of Steelton was charged Feb. 9 by Amity Township police in the Oct. 18, 2022, crash on Route 422 eastbound and Riverbridge Road, court records show. He was arraigned March 4 before District Judge Steven M. Chieffo in Oley Township.

Thompson remained free to await further action in Berks County Court after he was held for court following a preliminary hearing Wednesday, March 27, before Chieffo.

In addition to homicide by vehicle, Thompson faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, careless driving and failure to stop at a red light.

Justine Twardowski, 27, died of multiple injuries at the scene of the crash about 10:20 a.m. just east of Douglassville.

Amity police Officer Kenneth

Moyer, who is training in crash investigation and crash reconstruction, was called to the scene shortly after the crash.

According to the arrest affidavit:

One of the first officers on the scene spoke with Thompson, who said he was traveling eastbound on East Benjamin Franklin Highway, which is Route 422 eastbound, when his truck collided with a sedan.

A witness was sitting in traffic behind the sedan driven by Twardoski, facing north, before the crash. He told police the car in front of the sedan pulled out and made a right turn while the signal was still red.

When the sedan pulled up to the intersection, the light had turned green. The driver, later identified as Twardowski, proceeded to cross the highway. The tractor-trailer didn’t stop for the red light for eastbound traffic and continued through the intersection, striking the sedan, the witness said.

Police found security camera footage from a nearby business that showed the 18-wheeler running the red light. The light was red for six to seven seconds before the truck approached the intersection.

An Exeter Township police officer who is certified in motor carrier inspection found no violations that would have impeded the drive ability of the tractor-trailer.