HOPEWELL TWP.: Hospitalized motorcyclist who crashed faces six charges (updated)

Two motorcyclists who Hopewell Township police were trying to stop for alleged speeding ran off Bear Tavern Road and crashed at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
One motorcyclist — a 21-year-old Tom M. Emmanuel of South Logan Avenue, Trenton, was seriously injured. He remains hospitalized, according to police on Monday. Mr. Emmanuel has been charged with eluding a police officer, speeding, passing over a double-yellow line, reckless driving, driving without a motorcycle endorsement and failure to display a license plate.
The case will be forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
According to police, at about 5:20 p.m. Officer Mark Panzano was southbound on Bear Tavern Road near Pennington-Titusville Road when he saw four motorcycles traveling north along Bear Tavern Road at 66 mph. The posted speed limit is 45 mph.
Officer Panzano turned around and tried to catch up to the motorcycles. Police said he activated emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop the motorcycles, but the motorcyclists allegedly increased speed and began to pass other motor vehicles.
The officer lost sight of the motorcycles as they proceeded towards Harbourton-Rocktown Road. He continued north and came upon two of the motorcycles that had left the road and crashed just south of Harbourton-Mt. Airy Road.
A 1998 Kawasaki motorcycle, driven by 21-year-old Raimy D. Valdez of Lynns Court, Morrisville, Pa., crashed into a wooden post and rail fence. Mr. Valdez was uninjured. Mr. Valdez was placed under arrest and charged with eluding a police officer, speeding, passing over a double yellow line and reckless driving. Mr. Valdez remained in police custody at the time of the news release.
A 2009 Kawasaki motorcycle, driven by Mr. Emmanuel, crashed into a mailbox and a small tree. Seriously injured, the man was taken by the Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad and Capital Health paramedics to a local hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. Charges are pending investigation.
Harbourton-Rocktown Road between Harbourton-Mt. Airy Road and Harbourton- Pleasant Valley Road was blocked for three hours during the investigation.
The crash remains under investigation by township officers James Hoffman and Detective Louis Vastola and Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Don Santora. 