EAGLEVILLE, PA — A Montgomery County woman who touched countless lives of students with special needs and coworkers as a school bus aide was killed as a bystander amidst a high speed police chase in Lehigh County early Tuesday.
Susan Henderson, 67, was mourned widely by the Methacton School District, where she worked, and the many people she came to know in her years in the community.
The incident occurred on the 4100 block of Hecktown Road in Lower Nazareth Township, and began due to an expired inspection sticker on a vehicle, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
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An officer with the Colonial Regional Police attempted to pull over the vehicle, driven by Daneiris Abreu, 27, of the Bronx, New York, but Abreu fled, police said.
He eventually lost control of his vehicle during the ensuing chase, and crashed into Henderson, who was driving in the opposite lane of Hecktown Road, head-on, according to authorities.
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Henderson was taken to nearby St. Luke’s Hospital, where she was declared dead. Abreu and a passenger in his vehicle suffered minor injuries, and he was charged with homicide by vehicle and related counts.
The Methacton community was stunned.
“Our hearts are heavy with the loss of a dedicated Methacton school bus aide, Susan Henderson, who selflessly served special needs students,” the Special Education Alliance of MCC- Methacton shared in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to her family and all who were touched by her kindness and commitment.”
Days prior to the incident, Henderson had just shared a photo of her standing with her grandchild.
“My youngest granddaughters first day of kindergarten!! I only cried a little..” she wrote.
6ABC reports Henderson was on the way to pick up her granddaughter from school when the crash occurred.
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