Arrest made in deadly Allentown hit-and-run
Authorities say the driver who plowed down a Macungie man in Allentown in February has been arrested.
Jose Rainer Gonzalez-Roman, 29, of Allentown, was taken into custody Wednesday evening and is in Lehigh County Jail on $150,000 bail, according to a statement from Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin and Allentown police Chief Charles Roca.
Gonzalez-Roman had been sought since March, when he was charged with homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death or bodily injury, and accidents involving death or injury while not properly licensed, in addition to summary vehicle offenses, in connection with the Feb. 15 death of Steve Bernhard, 39.
According to the statement, a police officer saw a white car traveling at “a very high rate of speed” in the 1000 block of West Tilghman Street about 3:30 a.m.
As the officer tried to catch up to see the license plate and stop the driver, he came upon the unresponsive, seriously injured Bernard in the road at North 17th Street and Sumner Avenue.
Vehicle debris, including a driver’s side mirror, was found near Bernhard, who died at a hospital of multiple blunt force trauma, according to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.
Surveillance video from the area of the crash showed the car at high speed when it struck Bernhard.
An investigation revealed that Gonzalez-Roman was driving at the time, officials said.
At the time of his death, relatives said Bernhard, who worked at Whitaker Roofing & Siding Inc. in Allentown, was a funny man who was adored by his son and other family members.
— Daniel Patrick Sheehan