A late-morning crash on Center Valley Parkway in Upper Saucon Township turned deadly Sunday when a Bethlehem man’s vehicle crossed the median and slammed into oncoming traffic, triggering a seven-car chain reaction, authorities said.
Brian McKenna, 62, of Bethlehem, was behind the wheel of a 2020 Tesla traveling west on the 3300 block of Center Valley Parkway around 11 a.m. when his car crossed the center median and struck multiple eastbound vehicles, according to Upper Saucon police, who spoke with CBS Philadelphia.
Police said seven vehicles carrying a total of 10 people were involved in the crash. Officers extricated McKenna from the Tesla, but he did not survive. Three other people were injured and taken to local hospitals. Authorities did not immediately release their conditions, and the crash remains under investigation.
Intersection Long Eyed for Safety Work
The wreck unfolded on a stretch of road that local planners have had circled on their maps for years. Center Valley Parkway feeds busy retail and office complexes and sits close to the Route 309 interchange, a congestion and safety hot spot that officials have long said needs an overhaul.
According to PennDOT, a reconfiguration of the Route 309 and Center Valley Parkway intersection is currently in design, with construction planned to tackle both safety and capacity concerns.
Not the First Serious Crash Here
Heavy traffic and high speeds have made this corridor a repeat player in serious wrecks. Local coverage shows fatal crashes have hit the parkway in recent years, which is a big reason officials have pushed for changes.
As reported by Saucon Source, a 34-year-old Bethlehem motorcyclist was killed on Center Valley Parkway in October 2024.
In McKenna’s case, the Lehigh County Coroner's Office said an autopsy to determine his cause of death was scheduled for Monday, according to CBS Philadelphia. Authorities have not yet said what might have caused his vehicle to cross the median.
The Upper Saucon Township Police Department is leading the investigation and has not released additional details.
