Driver Who Was Using Drugs and Unlicensed in Fatal Route 22 Wreck to Serve Up to 10 Years in Prison

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

A man who was using drugs and driving while his license was suspended faces up to 10 years in prison.

Juan Ramone Sierra, 45, of Allentown pleaded guilty Jan. 16 to charges including homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan. The charges stemmed from a fatal crash on Route 22 in Whitehall Township in 2021.

Jessica Rivera, 41, a passenger in the car, died, according to Holihan’s statement. The vehicle was westbound when it went off the road and struck the base of a light pole.

A blood test showed Rivera had used amphetamine, methamphetamine and THC, according to the District Attorney’s press release.

Judge Thomas M. Caffrey sentenced Rivera to 5 to 10 years in prison, followed by 7 years of probation.

Here are the facts, straight from Holihan:

March 10, 2025

District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a state prison sentence for a man charged with killing a woman in a 2021 crash in Whitehall Township.
Juan Ramone Sierra, DOB 5/7/1979, of Allentown, pleaded guilty on Jan. 16, 2025 to charges of
Homicide by Vehicle While Driving Under the Influence and Accidents Involving Death While Not
Licensed, both felonies of the third degree; and a misdemeanor charge of Driving Under the Influence – Controlled Substance – 2nd Offense.
Sierra was sentenced today by Judge Thomas M. Caffrey to serve 5 to 10 years in prison followed by 7 years of probation.
Around 12:30 a.m. Aug. 9, 2021, Pennsylvania State Police were called to a fatal crash on Route 22 West near Route 145 in Whitehall Township.
The investigation showed the driver, identified as Sierra, was traveling west when it left the road,
continued into the grass and struck the base of a light pole.
Jessica Rivera, 41, of Allentown, was a passenger inside Sierra’s car and was pronounced dead at the scene. She died from multiple blunt force trauma and her death was ruled accidental by the Lehigh County Coroner.
Sierra was injured in the crash and taken to an area hospital. At the time of the crash, Sierra’s driver’s license was suspended.
A search warrant was obtained for the car and investigators found drugs and drug paraphernalia inside.
Blood tests results from Sierra after the crash showed the presence of amphetamine, methamphetamine and THC, the primary psychoactive compound found in marijuana.