By Steven Henshaw
Reading Eagle
RICHMOND TOWNSHIP, Penn. — An 80-year-old volunteer fire policeman remained hospitalized Tuesday after he was struck by a pickup truck in Richmond Township while directing traffic around an accident, officials said.
Calvin Hoch of Fleetwood, a longtime fire policeman with Fleetwood Fire Company, suffered head injuries in the accident Monday night on Route 222 and was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown, authorities said.
He was in critical condition Tuesday night, hospital officials said.
Hoch was struck about 8:40 as he crossed the northbound lanes of Route 222 near Kempsville Road at the southern end of the Kutztown Bypass, police said.
Hoch walked into the path of the northbound pickup truck driven by Charles Kaufman, 75, Kutztown, who was not injured, according to Fleetwood police, who patrol Richmond Township.
Hoch was wearing reflective clothing and carrying a flashlight as he tried to cross the northbound lanes to reach his vehicle, police said.
The southbound passing lane remained closed from the two-vehicle accident that occurred about an hour earlier, police said. Both northbound lanes remained opened.
Police said they are continuing to investigate.
“Fortunately, he (Kaufman) saw the emergency vehicle lights and was going slowly,” Fleetwood police Chief Ray A. Nester Jr. said.
Deputy Chief John R. Manmiller of Fleetwood Fire Company said Hoch has been active in the fire company and fire police. He is a lieutenant of the fire police and assistant treasurer of the fire company.
Police said the earlier accident occurred about 7:20 p.m. and gave this account:
Dennis Crone, 53, Honey Brook, was turning left onto Kempsville Road when his northbound sport utility vehicle collided with a southbound SUV driven by James Spier, Hellertown, Northampton County.
Both drivers were taken by ambulance to area hospitals with unspecified injuries. Both were wearing seat belts.
Crone was admitted to Reading Hospital, where he was in fair condition Tuesday. Spier was treated in Lehigh Valley Hospital.