EMMAUS AREA TEEN KILLED IN 2-CAR CRASH SENIOR WAS TO GRADUATE SUNDAY; DRIVER CHARGED
Morning Call, The (Allentown, PA) - Monday, June 8, 1987
Author: TOM MOYLAN, The Morning Call

An 18-year-old Emmaus area woman was killed in a two-car crash early yesterday in Allentown, and an 18-year-old Allentown man is charged in the accident.

Dead is Shelly A. Billman of Jasper Road, Emmaus R.1. She was scheduled to graduate Sunday from Emmaus High School.

Timothy Mark Rodgers of 737 N. Front St. is charged with vehicular homicide and underage drinking by Allentown police. He is free on $10,000 bail.

Police said the accident happened at 1:34 a.m. at Lehigh and Lawrence streets. Police said Rodgers' car was traveling west on Lawrence when he ran a red light at Lehigh and struck Billman's car, which was traveling south on Lehigh.

Police said Billman 's car was flipped upside down and came to rest on top of Rodgers' car.

Billman's three passengers, Kelley Dunkerley, 18, of 1101 Barnside Road, Allentown; Michele Eshbach, 17, of Old Zionsville, and Susan Gambler, 18, of 234 Chestnut St., Alburtis, received injuries in the accident. They were listed in satisfactory condition last night at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center.

Two passengers in Rodgers' car, Sidney Robertson, 18, of 847 N. Kearney St., Allentown, and Michael D. Gocci, 19, of 861 N. Ingram St., Allentown, were treated for injuries at Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown, and released. A third passenger, Christopher Schadler, 19, of 1168 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Salisbury Township, was apparently not injured.

Robert Weir, Lehigh County coroner, said an autopsy performed yesterday determined that Billman died from internal injuries.

Billman received a Merit in Art Award from Lehigh County Area Vocational- Tec hnical School, Schnecksville, during Senior Awards Night May 26. She had been accepted at Northampton County Area Community College to study commercial art.

She also worked part time at the Golden Corral Steak House, Emmaus.

Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of Harry T. Billman of Emmaus and Gladys (Bartholomew) Ruth, wife of Russell Ruth, with whom she resided.

She was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Old Zionsville.

Surviving with her parents are two brothers, Ted Harry Billman of Macungie and Terry D. Billman of Emmaus; a half-brother, Todd J. Billman ; paternal grandmother, Mrs. Mary E. (Roth) Billman , and stepmother, Joanne (Karoly) Billman , all of Emmaus; a stepsister, Tonya L. Ruth of Salisbury Township, and maternal step-grandmother, Mrs. Edith (Booth) Bartholomew of Emmaus.