Ashland woman killed in hit-and-run crash; Tamaqua woman charged
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - A Frackville Police cruiser on June 13, 2024.
FRACKVILLE – A Tamaqua woman is facing charges, accused of striking and killing a motorcyclist here and fleeing.
Evelyn Valentine Clausius, 72, of East Broad Street, was charged Saturday by Frackville Police Patrolman Daniel Bound.
She is facing one count of felony accidents involving death or personal injury.
According to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, Beth Burlile, 62, of Ashland, was pronounced dead Friday night at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest near Allentown.
They said she was the passenger on a motorcycle involved in a crash that night around 5pm Friday in the 500 block of West Oak Street in Frackville.
Frackville Police did not release information to the Sentinel regarding the crash, but court documents obtained through Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli’s office outline the charges.
According to the complaint, filed by Bound, police responded to a crash with injuries around 5pm Friday involving a three-wheeled motorcycle.
The two riders — a man, identified as Larry Burlile Sr. and a woman identified as his wife, Beth Burlile — were injured. First responders were attempting CPR on Beth when police arrived.
Witnesses said the motorcycle was hit by a red or maroon colored car that drove off after the crash.
At a Pottsville hospital, Larry Burlile told police that he was behind a vehicle with its four-ways on as he was driving on West Oak Street. The vehicle suddenly stopped and he attempted to pass on the left when the car pulled out and struck the bike.
Security camera footage from nearby businesses showed a red Chevy Aveo in the area at the time, owned by Clausius.
A tipster told police the Aveo was at the Budget Inn, formerly Granny’s Motel, in West Mahanoy Township, where it was found with fresh damage.
Police contacted Clausius who admitted she was involved in the crash.
She was arrested Sunday and arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Andrew J. Serina. She was committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post 10% of $45,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is set for May 14.
About Author
