Richard Burnet, a 58-year-old Bethlehem man, died Sunday after spending days in the hospital following a pedestrian crash on Stefko Boulevard. The coroner's ruling closes one chapter of the case, but Bethlehem police and county investigators are still working through what happened.
Burnet was pronounced dead at 3:42 a.m. at St. Luke's University Hospital-Bethlehem, according to Daily Voice. He had been hospitalized since last Thursday night, when he was struck by a vehicle around 10:34 p.m. in the 1800 block of Stefko Boulevard; an autopsy completed Monday found complications of blunt force trauma, and the death was ruled accidental.
Stefko Boulevard Is Already Flagged For Safety Work
The fatal crash comes as Bethlehem is planning safety improvements along Stefko Boulevard. In an April memo to City Council, the City of Bethlehem said Stefko is among the top 10 corridors on its High Injury Network and that residents have raised safety and connectivity concerns for decades.
The proposed planning work includes collecting traffic data, evaluating existing conditions, gathering community input and developing concepts tied to the roadway's eventual resurfacing. Investigators with the Bethlehem Police Department and Lehigh County Coroner's Office continue examining Burnet's death, Daily Voice reported.
Fatal Pedestrian Crash Follows Another Bethlehem Death
The death also follows another fatal pedestrian crash in Bethlehem earlier this year. In March, 80-year-old Daniel Bayak was killed near Linden Street and Butztown Road after police said he was crossing in an area marked with no-crossing signage, according to Daily Voice.
That earlier crash remained under investigation with no charges filed at the time of the report. The circumstances surrounding Burnet's collision, including any potential driver or roadway factors, have not been detailed beyond the coroner's accidental ruling.
