The 53-year-old Whitehall Township man fatally struck Friday in what authorities are describing as a homicide case was a father of two and was getting ready to celebrate his 23rd wedding anniversary, according to his obituary.
Stephen S. Fistner died following the incident that happened just after 6 p.m. Friday in the 1300 block of North 14th Street. Authorities say Fistner was struck intentionally by a gray sedan driven by 55-year-old Rajgion Davis of Whitehall. Davis allegedly initially drove the sedan into an unoccupied Toyota RAV-4 and fled the scene, before returning minutes later and striking Fistner and a 51-year-old woman he knew.
Services for Fistner are set for 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, 1629 Hamilton St., in Allentown. A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment to follow at St. Peter’s Union Cemetery in Macungie.
Fistner leaves behind his wife, Yesenia A. (Baret) Fistner; mother, Diane C. Fistner; and children, Juan Mendez and James Coleman; as well as his sister, Karen Lisius, and her husband, Joseph. He was predeceased by his father, Stephen J. Fistner, the obit states.
Fistner was born in Allentown and previously lived in the Upper Saucon area. He graduated from Southern Lehigh High School and was employed by Mack Trucks in Macungie. He additionally was a congregant of St. Peter’s Union Church in Macungie, the obit states.
Stephen and Yesenia were set to celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary the day after he died, according to the obit.
Fistner and Yesenia on Friday evening were walking their dog when they stopped to help the female owner of the struck Toyota, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
That’s when Davis returned to the scene and intentionally drove directly in the path of the trio, striking Davis, who pushed his wife and dog out of the way, and the Toyota owner, court records state. Several parked vehicle also were struck by Davis, authorities said.
The Toyota owner became pinned between Davis’ sedan and a parked vehicle, court records state. She was taken to an area hospital, where authorities say she remains in critical condition with serious injuries.
Fistner was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 7 a.m. Friday by the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy was conducted Monday morning. Fistner died from multiple blunt force injuries due to the pedestrian crash and the manner was ruled a homicide by Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio.
Witnesses and residents who called 911 assisted the victims and followed Davis while recording him on their cellphones as he attempted to escape the scene, court records state. When investigators arrived, Davis was immediately taken into custody by Allentown police.
Davis allegedly admitted to an investigator at the scene his intention was to harm and kill the woman who owned the Toyota RAV-4. He stated he didn’t mean to kill Fistner, according to court records.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan told lehighvalleylive.com Tuesday there is no new information to provide about a possible motive for the attack. Authorities previously said the only relationship between Davis and the Toyota owner revealed so far in the investigation is that they previously were neighbors.
Court records do state, however, Davis allegedly accused the woman of having relations with people he knew.
Aside from felony criminal homicide, Davis is facing felony attempted murder and felony aggravated assault. He was arraigned Saturday before District Judge Daniel C. Trexler, who denied bail. In lieu of bail, Davis was taken to the Lehigh County jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 16 to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial at the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.
A representative of the Lehigh County Public Defender’s Office told lehighvalleylive.com this week counsel is yet to be assigned to Davis. The incident remains under investigation by the Whitehall Township Police Department; Lehigh County Coroner’s Office; Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office; and Lehigh County Crash Reconstruction Team.
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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
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