I-78 Crash Victim was a Penn State student hockey player in Lehigh Valley

Five people were killed in two separate crashes Tuesday night on eastbound I-78 in Berks County, authorities said.

One of the victims was August “Gus” Schwartz, 20, of South Whitehall Township, the county coroner’s office confirmed Thursday.

The Penn State student was driving home to Lehigh Valley for vacation and was only an hour away when he was involved in the first collision around 8:30 p.m. in Tilden Township, according to a GoFundMe on his behalf.

A pile-up was caused by a school bus driver who did not slow down in a construction zone. According to state police, Schwartz’s Chevrolet Cruze got lodged under the bus.

Almost $ 55,000 was raised during the Friday afternoon fundraiser.

Schwartz graduated from Parkland High School in Allentown and was a former Lehigh Valley Phantoms youth hockey player.

“Gus was and always will be the best example of what a Parkland Ice Hockey player should be,” the school hockey club said on Facebook.

“His smile showed how much he loved hockey. His hard work and respect for the game made him a great teammate and a pleasure to coach. He was known on the ice as “Gus the Bus” for his style of play. “

The Phantoms team also took to Facebook, calling him “one of the smartest and hardest working players.”

“Gus” leaves behind many loved ones, including his mother, Jodi, and sisters, Lara and Natalie, the fundraiser said.

“Jodi would never ask for anything, but we know there are a lot of people who want to do something.”

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