Driver Charged After Falling Asleep, Hitting Pole, Police Say

A Bethlehem woman is facing charges after Hellertown Police say she allegedly fell asleep and struck a utility pole in the 1500 block of Main Street on Wednesday, Oct. 30, causing “significant damage” to it.

In a news release issued Monday, police said Nicole C. Ohare, 30, of the 2100 block of Davis Street, was northbound on Main Street when she struck the pole shortly before 11 a.m.

Police didn’t indicate in the news release whether Ohare was injured in the crash, but said that during their investigation into the accident they allegedly discovered “a marijuana smoking pipe with a small amount of marijuana…in the vehicle, which (Ohare) claimed ownership of.”

Ohare is charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, careless driving, driving with an expired inspection, driving with expired emissions and driving with an expired registration, the news release indicated.