A 48-year-old man was fatally injured after a vehicle struck him on the 5800 block of Route 873 in Washington Township on Monday, April 20. The collision was reported at about 4:45 p.m., and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office later identified the victim as Richard J. Erickson. Erickson was pronounced dead Sunday morning, and officials say the case remains under investigation as they work to determine how the crash unfolded.
Crash details
According to WFMZ, the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Erickson, 48, was struck along the 5800 block of Route 873, with the first call about the crash coming in around 4:45 p.m. The coroner told the outlet that Erickson was pronounced dead on Sunday morning after suffering injuries in the collision.
Pedestrian safety in Pennsylvania
Statewide data show that pedestrians are particularly at risk on non‑interstate state highways. PennDOT’s 2024 Crash Facts and Statistics report 174 pedestrian deaths in 2024, with roughly 60% of those fatalities occurring on non‑interstate state roadways. Many of the deaths also happened away from intersections and in areas without traffic control devices. Monday’s fatal crash on a non‑interstate stretch of Route 873 falls into that broader pattern.
Investigation and next steps
The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office told WFMZ that an autopsy for Erickson was scheduled for May 5 to help determine his cause and manner of death. Investigators are still working through the details of the crash, and, according to the outlet, police have not yet released information about the driver involved or any potential charges.
