The Berks County District Attorney approved homicide charges for a Connecticut man for causing a fatal Interstate 78 crash that killed the passenger in his box truck on Friday morning.
As a result of the crash, Jamie Sanchez, 44, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was charged with homicide by vehicle, possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, and other related offenses.
Sanchez was arraigned from his hospital bed at Reading Hospital by Magisterial District Judge Kimberly L. Bagenstose with bail being denied. Upon release from the hospital, Sanchez will be committed to Berks County Prison.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Hamburg, the crash occurred around 5:40am, on the westbound onramp from Route 61 to Interstate 78 at mile marker 29.3 in Tilden Township near Hamburg.
The crash occurred as a disabled tractor trailer with its four ways on being driven by Andrae Cornelius Riley Bland, 42, of Fresno, CA was parked on the on ramp.
A box truck, being driven by Jamie Sanchez, 44, of Bridgeport, CT was traveling westbound on Interstate 78 when it struck the rear of the trailer with the front passenger side of the box truck.
Sanchez suffered moderate injuries and was transported via Hamburg EMS to Reading Hospital.
The passenger in the box truck, who was not identified, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Berk's County Coroners Office.
Bland was not injured.
Interstate 78 westbound was closed for nearly 5 hours while the Troop L CARS and FSU Units investigated and cleared the scene.
Also assisting at the scene were fire companies from Hamburg, Shartlesville, Shoemakersville, and Port Clinton, as well as PennDOT.
State Police are asking for anyone that may have witnessed the crash to call the Hamburg Barracks at (610) 562-6885.