The driver lost control, left the highway and hit a tree Saturday night in Allamuchy Township, authorities said.
A 54-year-old woman died from injuries she sustained following a fiery crash Saturday night along Interstate 80 in Allamuchy Township, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.
(file photo) Geraldine S. Beldo, of Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County, at around 8 p.m. Saturday was near mile marker 20.3 when she lost control of a Mazda SUV and struck a tree, according to the coroner's office.
The vehicle then burst into flames, said Sgt. Gregory Williams, a New Jersey State Police spokesman. He said passing motorists pulled over and rescued the victim, who was trapped inside the vehicle.
Troopers arriving at the scene had to pull Beldo even farther away from the wreckage due to the heat, he said.
Beldo initially was taken to Pocono Medical Center and later transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, where she was pronounced dead at 4:31 a.m. Sunday.
Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim said Beldo died from multiple traumatic injuries and he deemed the manner of death accidental.
Williams was unsure if speed was a factor in the crash, noting the accident remains under investigation by the New Jersey State Police at the Hope station and the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.