Elijah Soler Killed in Auto Accident on American Parkway in Allentown, PA
Allentown, PA — January 2, 2023, 18-year-old Elijah Soler died in a collision with a tractor-trailer on American Parkway in Allentown.
Authorities say the incident happened around 7:35 p.m. on a bridge of American Parkway. The cause and circumstances of the accident aren't clear yet, but preliminary reports indicate Soler was driving a passenger vehicle when he somehow collided with an 18-wheeler in the area.
Soler was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The crash remains under investigation. No further information is currently available.
I've learned over the years that crashes involving young drivers, particularly teens, don't always get the careful attention they deserve. While no one would dispute how terrible accidents like this are, some folks may still attribute them to the perceived carelessness of youth and the errors in judgment it may lead to at the wheel.
Am I claiming the young man couldn't have made a mistake? No, but it's clear that nobody knows yet what did happen so it's important not to jump to conclusions. Many other factors--from wet roads and rain to vehicle malfunctions to poor visibility to the truck driver making mistakes--could have been involved, and all of them must be accounted for to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
In the meantime rather than reaching any hasty conclusions, it's best to give those involved the benefit of the doubt as someone learns the whole story for the sake of those who lost a loved one. I just hope police efforts will be enough to get it for them.
