Police Log, 7/2/2025
NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL – The following is a collection of police incidents reported by local law enforcement agencies in our region.
Vehicle Crash
VULCAN – An Orwigsburg man was cited after police say he struck a tree, disabling his car, and fled the scene.
According to State Police at Frackville, the crash happened around 5am Sunday at the 131B offramp on Interstate 81 Northbound.
Troopers said Diego Armando Avila Castro, 24, of Orwigsburg, was headed north on I-81 in a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban when he left the shoulder of the exit ramp and struck a tree.
The SUV was disabled, troopers said, and Avila Castro fled the scene.
He was cited for the crash.
Vehicle Crash
ZION GROVE – A Tamaqua woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries after a crash in the valley.
According to State Police at Frackville, the crash happened around 5pm as Emma Pester, 27, of Tamaqua, was headed south on Zion Grove Road in Union Township.
Troopers said she lost control of her 2016 Jeep and struck an embankment, disabling the vehicle.
She had minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital by Shenandoah EMS.
The vehicle was towed from the scene by D&B Towing.
Theft
GIRARDVILLE – State troopers are seeking whoever swiped a wood pellet grill from a Girardville home.
State Police at Frackville said the theft happened between 3pm Friday and 8am Saturday at a home on West Mahanoy Avenue.
Troopers said someone took a Pit Boss 700FB1 Wood Pellet Grill from the rear of the home and fled.
Anyone with information should call State Police at 570-874-5300.
Vehicle Crash
KLINE TOWNSHIP – A crash left 30,000 pounds of cheese strewn about a highway just south of McAdoo over the weekend.
The crash happened around 9am Saturday on Route 309 on the mile hill, according to State Police at Frackville.
A tractor trailer was heading south on Route 309 when it crossed over the raised center divider, crossed the northbound lanes and descending 100 feet down an embankment.
State troopers said 30,000 pounds of cheese had to be recovered from the scene.
Vehicle Crash
NEW MORGAN – A local man was injured in a crash in Berks County, according to State Police at Reading.
Gary Kemmerling, 80, of Morea, was driving on Interstate 176 in New Morgan borough around 10pm Friday when troopers said his 2022 Mazda hydroplaned.
He struck a guiderail and a concrete barrier.
Kemmerling suffered minor injuries and was taken to Reading Hospital.
Troopers said he was cited for failure to drive at a safe speed for conditions.
Vehicle Crash
NESQUEHONING – A Lehigh Valley man was pronounced dead Monday at a Bethlehem hospital after authorities say he was involved in a crash in the Panther Valley.
Rajnesh Prasad, 64, of Whitehall Township, was identified as the victim by the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.
The Coroner’s Office said he was driving a vehicle that struck a tree stump in the area of the State Game Land shooting range on Route 93 in Nesquehoning.
Trespassing
SHENANDOAH – An investigation into package thefts led police to discover a trespassing situation.
Gregory Lee Yoder, 36, of Shenandoah, is facing a felony criminal trespass charge filed by Shenandoah Police.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Shenandoah Police Lieutenant Cody Applegate, officers were investigating a theft in the unit block of South West Street around 1pm June 23.
Stolen packages were allegedly being discarded in the area as suspects went into a home at 5 South West Street.
Neighbors told police that the home’s owner was deceased. The back door was open and police entered and began securing the property.
Yoder was found on the first floor and said it was his friend’s grandparent’s home. Police contacted the home’s caretaker who said no one was permitted to enter the home.
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