Subject Of Manhunt Captured Near Morgantown

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After eluding a massive manhunt in southern Berks County for hours and hours, a cold, hungry and tired truck driver must have been drawn by the outdoor security light of the Chestnut Hill Field Archers clubhouse, the club president said Friday.

Larry Buzzard, club president, said there’s a hollow that the wanted trucker could have followed from the spot on Interstate 176 where he crashed Thursday morning and ran from police. That hollow leads to a ridge from which he would have seen the light on the clubhouse, near the Conestoga Landfill in New Morgan, shining like a beacon in a sea of darkness.

“It can be seen for miles,” said Buzzard, who lives in Caernarvon Township, Lancaster County.

State police said Harold A. Davis Jr. broke into the clubhouse on Quarry Road and spent the night.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=519195

Police Looking For Truck Driver After Chase In Berks County

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A trucker wanted for robbery in Florida drove more than 3 miles on Interstate 176 this morning with a state trooper clinging to the cab of his truck before crashing and fleeing into the woods, setting off an extensive manhunt. The trooper was not injured.

Police have identified the man as Harold. A. Davis Jr., 56, of Philadelphia. He remains at large, with dozens of police officers from all around Berks County joining in the search.

The incident began about 10 a.m. when Davis drove through a truck inspection detail being done by Caernarvon Police on Interstate 176 just north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, said Trooper David C. Beohm, state police spokesman. A trooper approached Davis’ car hauler, but as he mounted the truck to speak with the driver Davis began to pull away, starting a slow-speed chase with the trooper still hanging from the side of the cab.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=519081

End In Sight For Route 724 Construction In Reading

750 mm by 600 mm (30 in by 24 in) Pennsylvania shield, made to the specifications of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 2003 Edition (sign M1-5). Uses the Roadgeek 2005 fonts. (United States law does not permit the copyrighting of typeface designs, and the fonts are meant to be copies of a U.S. Government-produced work anyway.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When the roadblocks went up on Route 724, Melanie Degler’s commute to her job in Douglassville instantly became 10 minutes longer.

The bit of the highway she usually takes to get on Interstate 176 and then Route 422 from her home in Cumru Township’s Flying Hills development was closed so the Reading Area Water Authority could install a 16-inch main.

Now, she has to go south on Route 10 only to come back north on the interstate.

“We don’t have a lot of streets here to take as alternatives, so you have to go out of your way to go around it,” Degler said.

Read more:

http://www.ydr.com/state/ci_21976031/end-sight-route-724-construction-reading

Reports Of Damage, Road Closings Caused By Hurricane Sandy

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Several local roads are closed because of downed trees, utility poles and wires, emergency officials said this morning.

Route 61 is closed between Route 73 and Ashley Way in Ontelaunee Township, and Route 183 is closed between West Leesport Road and Palisades Drive in Bern Township.

There were also reports of trees blocking secondary roads and scattered power outages throughout Berks County and surrounding areas, dispatchers said.

The West Shore Bypass, Warren Street bypasses and Interstate 176 and 78 were open in all directions.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=424252