UPDATE- 01/04/23
**After requesting assistance from the public regarding witnesses or video, the Ephrata Police Department received additional footage related to this case. On January 3, 2023 footage from December 25, 2022 at approximately 12:25 AM was obtained which clearly showed a subject climb onto a tractor trailer truck and lie down on the chassis between the cab and the trailer while it was stopped at an intersection in Ephrata Borough. The person then climbed under the chassis and held onto the underside of the chassis upside down as the truck pulled away and out of camera view from the intersection. The truck took approximately 55 seconds to drive from this point to the intersection of W. Main St. and Martin Ave. This footage appears to confirm that Mr. Donnelly was on the truck when it drove on W. Main St. past Martin Ave. and dislodged from the truck, ultimately causing his fatal injuries. No charges are being filed in this case.**
12/27/22-
The Ephrata Police Department is seeking assistance from the public regarding an investigation into the death of an Ephrata man. On 12/25/22 at approximately 12:29 AM, an Ephrata police officer came upon the scene of a person down on the roadway near the intersection of West Main Street and Martin Avenue in Ephrata Borough. The officer encountered a passing motorist who stopped to render aid to the subject. EMS responded and provided care but the subject died at the scene. The subject was identified as Paul Donnelly, 39, of Ephrata.
A witness was driving westbound in the 300 block of West Main Street in Ephrata Borough and reported that she was following a truck prior to seeing the subject on the road. She reported seeing the male subject appear on the ground in the roadway after the truck in front of her passed through the intersection of Martin Avenue.
Police were able to identify and locate the tractor-trailer and driver that were observed driving through the intersection a short distance from the scene. The driver of the truck stated that he did not see anyone in or near the street near the intersection and did not notice hitting anything. The truck and trailer were closely examined for evidence of a collision with the deceased person, however, no evidence of a collision was observed. The truck was equipped with a dash camera. Footage from the dash camera corroborated the driver’s account and clearly showed that there were no pedestrians visible on the roadway, sidewalks or roadside as the truck approached and passed through the intersection and no indication that the truck struck anything.
Police obtained video footage from a nearby building which showed the intersection from a different angle than the truck approached from. That footage showed no pedestrians visible on the roadway, sidewalks, or roadside as the truck approached and passed through the intersection. As the truck left the intersection, Mr. Donnelly was seen lying on the roadway. The officer arrived approximately 30 seconds later.
The coroner’s office determined that Mr. Donnelly died from blunt impact trauma. Police are still investigating how Mr. Donnelly came to be in the roadway at the intersection and sustained the injuries he had. Police believe based on the evidence available that Mr. Donnelly may have been riding on some part of the truck or trailer undetected by the driver and fell or jumped from the moving truck resulting in his injuries.
Anyone who may have witnessed anything or may have home or vehicle video footage on 12/25/2022 between 12:00-12:40 AM in the area of West Main St. at Martin Ave. or on West Main Street between the square and Martin Avenue are asked to contact Sgt. Matthew Randolph 717-738-9200 ext. 221.
