Passenger Injured in Lower Saucon Accident Reportedly Recovering

A 15-year-old Hellertown girl who was critically injured in is recovering but remains in critical condition in a Philadelphia hospital, according to a story published in the Morning Call March 17.

Amanda Illingworth, a student at Saucon Valley High School, reportedly suffered a torn aorta when an SUV driven by her friend--identified as 17-year-old Hellertown resident Jonathan DeMasi in the Morning Call article--left Polk Valley Road near Illick Drive and crashed head-on into a tree.

According to a Lower Saucon Township Police Department report released March 15, the accident occurred after DeMasi's cell phone received a text message.

"(The) driver stated his passenger grabbed the steering wheel and told him she would steer while he attended to his phone, at which point the vehicle left the right side of the roadway and struck a tree head on," the report said.

The report only indicated that Illingworth was transported to St. Luke's Hospital with "unknown" injuries following the accident. It indicated that the driver was treated for minor injuries at St. Luke's as well, and that he was cited for careless driving.

According to a March 18 story about the accident in the Express-Times, the Illingworth family has been receiving support from their church, school officials and the Saucon Valley community as a whole.

In the Morning Call story, Illingworth's parents also cite the supportiveness of DeMasi in the time since the accident occurred.