After terrible weather hit Ohio, some potentially strong storms are possible in the Lehigh Valley later today. Accu-Weather's Heather Zehr says we could see a little bit of everything with this system. "If you can think of a kind of severe weather, it's likely to be involved here. We've got the flooding downpours and the damaging winds as the most likely things. But there's a chance for some hail and we could have a tornado," Zehr says. The best chance for the violent weather is between 4 this afternoon and 10 tonight.
Five people are in the hospital following a one-car crash in Allentown. The unidentified victims were brought to the hospital for medical treatment of serious injuries after their vehicle smashed into a pole on Hanover Avenue early Monday morning. The road was closed for several hours following the crash, which remains under investigation.
Two police officers are recovering after a three-vehicle crash Sunday night on Route 512 in Pen Argyl. The two Slate Belt Regional police officers drove themselves to the hospital after the crash on 512. Their vehicle was stopped on South Main Street when a man in a pickup truck turned left onto Main Street in front of a car driven by a woman, who swerved to avoid the truck. She ended up hitting the passenger side of the truck, sending that truck into the police vehicle. The woman suffered a minor injury. It's believed the man driving the truck was driving under the influence at the time of the crash.
A woman and her dog are safe and sound after being lost in the woods near the Appalachian Trail. Beth O'Neill, of Leesport, was hiking on the trail Sunday evening but eventually became lost. A turkey hunter found the woman Monday morning. Ed Reinert says he heard O'Neill's cry for help. "I heard her again and I hollered back at her and then her dog starting barking and then I went up to her and asked if she needed help and she said yes," Reinert says. O'Neill is fine, save for some cuts and bruises.
Pennsylvania State Police will be ramping up patrols this summer in hopes of keeping drivers safe. Troopers are teaming with AAA for Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort. State police say they'll be more visible with enforcement patrols, targeting speeding, distracted driving and aggressive driving. More DUI checkpoints are also planned in the deadly crash-reduction campaign.
State flags are once again flying at half-staff today in honor of a state trooper who died while on the job. Donald Brackett was found dead on May 18th outside of his cruiser along I-276 in Bucks County, the victim of what's being described as a medical episode. Funeral services are planned for tomorrow. A public viewing happens today.
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker is continuing his campaign for the Democrat presidential nomination in Iowa. Booker attended a Memorial Day barbecue in Urbandale Monday where he also spoke from a small stage. He urged Americans to reject politics of division and also spoke of his focus on public education. The Iowa caucus is a key early contest in the Democrat presidential primaries. It will be held in February of next year.