Drivers identified in deadly Del. Co. crash

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - November 10, 2009

PHOTOS: Chopper 6 over the accident scene

It happened at about 7:45 Tuesday morning near the intersection of Route 352 and Knowlton Road in Middletown Township.

Police say the person who caused this multi-vehicle crash was 18-year-old Jonathan Trueheart of Ambler, Pa. Officers say he was driving upwards of 100 miles per hour in a school zone.

According to witnesses, police had been pursuing the Trueheart, but State Police handling the investigation say at the time of the crash there was no police pursuit.

"Like a bomb exploding." That's how one person described the sound of the fatal impact.

Witnesses say the red SUV was travelling northbound on Route 352 at a very high rate of speed when it ran the red signal at Knowlton Road, slamming into a dark-colored Honda, which was crossing the road with the green light.

Driving that car was 33-year-old Joseph Sherlock of Upper Providence, Delaware County. He was trapped inside the car and pronounced dead.

The force of the impact was so great that much of the Honda was shoved sideways several car lengths into southbound traffic.

Trueheart is currently hospitalzed and facing "serious charges," Action News has learned.

A witness on the scene said Trueheart tried to run away after the crash.

Traffic on busy Route 352 was detoured to side roads during the investigation.

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