A Washington Township woman has been charged in relation to a fatal crash where her 3-year-old child was killed.

Jennifer Gerczak, 27, of Main St., Washington Township, has been charged with two counts of careless driving, a summary offense.

On Dec. 21, 2017, at 11:23 a.m., Trooper Tyler Herrera, of Pennsylvania State Police-Troop M Bethlehem, was dispatched to the scene of a crash which had occurred at 5832 Kernsville Road, North Whitehall Township.

The crash included a 2013 Kia Soul, driven by the defendant, and a Ford Edge, operated by Marianne Kostenbader, 56, of 1926 Vintage Drive, Easton.

Both vehicles had sustained disabling damage.

Gerczak’s child, 3, was a passenger in the Kia Soul. Both Gerczek and the child had to be removed from the Kia.

Gerczek, the child, and. Kostenbader were transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for treatment. The child was pronounced dead at the hospital. Cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Trooper Herrera investigated the crash and was able to determine that the vehicle driven by Gerczek was traveling west on Kernsville Road, and Kostenbader’s vehicle was going east. Gerczek’s vehicle crossed the yellow line and struck the Ford head on. The investigation determined that immediately before the collision, the defendant was looking at the Global Positioning System on her cellular phone while she was driving.

As a result of the investigation, it is alleged that Jennifer Gerczek exhibited carelessness, causing the crash which resulted in her child’s death.

“I hope this tragic loss of a young life will serve as a warning to motorists about the danger of using cellphones while driving,” Martin said.

As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation; and the defendant, Jennifer Gerczak, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.