July 2, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
A Whitehall Township man has been charged with homicide by vehicle and other charges for allegedly running a red light and hitting a 39-year-old bicyclist.
Harrison Odere, 51, allegedly drove his SUV through a red light around 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025, at MacArthur Road and Sutler Drive, according to a statement from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Whitehall Township Police Chief Michael Marks.
Odere allegedly struck bicyclist Nickolas Andrew Siegfried and then fled, according to the press release. Siegfried died from multiple blunt-force trauma.
A Whitehall Township officer saw an SUV matching the description of the vehicle in the crash a half mile away. It had a smashed windshield and was driven by Odere, according to Holihan and Marks.
“Odere was arraigned July 1, 2026 before District Judge Todd Heffelfinger and is free on $50,000
unsecured bail. Odere’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 7, 2026,” according to the statement.
As the District Attorney always notes: As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed are merely accusations; and the accused, Harrison Odere, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Here’s the statement from law enforcement:
July 2, 2026
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Whitehall Township Police Chief Michael Marks announce charges in a 2025 fatal crash.
Harrison Odere, DOB 1/18/1975, of Whitehall Township, is charged with felony counts of Homicide by Vehicle, Hit and Run causing Death or Serious Bodily Injury and misdemeanor charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and summary charges of Reckless Driving, Careless Driving, Duty to Give Information and Render Aid and Traffic Control Signals.
Odere was arraigned July 1, 2026 before District Judge Todd Heffelfinger and is free on $50,000 unsecured bail. Odere’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 7, 2026.
Around 1:15 p.m. Dec. 31, 2025, Whitehall Police were called to a crash involving a vehicle and a bicycle at the intersection of Macarthur Road and Sutler Drive.
Officers found the victim nearby, identified as 39-year-old Nickolas Andrew Siegfried.
Siegfried died from multiple blunt force trauma due to bicycle/motor vehicle collision and his death was ruled accidental by the Lehigh County Coroner.
The investigation revealed that Siegfried had been crossing Macarthur Road on a bicycle traveling east to west from the westbound lane of Sutler Drive when he was struck by a sports utility vehicle driven by Odere.
Witnesses identified the vehicle and said it failed to stop after the crash and fled the scene.
A Whitehall Township officer responding to the crash saw an SUV matching the description of the one involved in the fatal crash that was located about a half mile away. The SUV had a smashed windshield and was driven by Odere.
The investigation showed Odere’s vehicle failed to stop at a steady red light and did not attempt to brake or slow down before or after the collision.
This case was investigated by Whitehall Township Police Sgt. Ronald Kester and will be
prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney V. Paul Bernardino III.
As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed
are merely accusations; and the accused, Harrison Odere, is presumed innocent until and
unless proven guilty.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 