HAZLETON -- One person is dead after a crash in Hazleton.
According to police, a car driven by Jerome Sinkewicz, 55, of Plymouth and another car collided at the intersection of North Church and West 8th Streets around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Sinkewicz later died at the hospital.
The driver of the other car involved was Eddy Casado, 24, of Hazleton. He left his gray Audi at the scene of the crash and fled before police arrived. Police say he shouldn't have been driving as his license was suspended.
Police found Casado shortly after the crash when he showed up at the Lehigh Valley Hospital complaining of back injuries.
"It's just a tragedy," said David Walton of Hazleton.
Walton didn't see the crash but lives and works nearby. He isn't surprised by a crash like this in the area.
All too often, Walton sees cars along North Church Street going a lot faster than the 25 miles per hour posted speed limit.
"Every day you see people cutting through the parking lot here. Almost hit my car twice, trying to beat the light over here," Walton added.
Hours after the crash, debris still littered the ground near the early morning crash in Hazleton.
Police have reconstructed the crash but have not determined who was at fault. They did say that the driver who was killed was traveling down West 8th Street, and did not have the right of way.
As for the other driver who was traveling down North Church Street, police have not determined if he was speeding.
"We are just very premature in this investigation. We are in the preliminary stages. Once it is completed we will have a better idea as to the speeds of the vehicles that were involved in the collision. Then that may factor into additional charges," said Hazleton Police Lieutenant Kenneth Zipovsky.
Zipovsky added that although the driver of the Audi fled after the crash and had a suspended license, he has not been charged with anything yet.
Police are waiting for a blood alcohol test and the results of the crash reconstruction, before filing any charges against the surviving driver.