In the early hours of Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the bustling calm of morning was shattered on U.S. Route 222 near Dries Road in Ontelaunee Township, Pennsylvania, when Maria Zavala‑Tinoco, age 40, of Reading, stepped into the roadway and lost her life in a devastating crash. According to the Northern Berks Regional Police Department, she was struck by a tractor-trailer and then by another northbound vehicle just before 4:55 a.m. The accident forced a stretch of Route 222 to close as investigators secured the scene and gathered evidence.
Maria had been attempting to cross the highway at the Dries Road intersection when the first impact occurred. Emergency crews arrived rapidly, but despite their best efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The tractor-trailer reportedly bore the brunt of the strike, followed by the second vehicle in motion. Details remain under investigation and authorities are urging anyone with information to reach out.
Her sudden passing has struck her family, friends and the broader Reading community hard. Maria was known widely as a devoted mother, a doting daughter, and a friend whose kindness and warm smile brought comfort to many. Her laughter, her compassion, and the strength she carried quietly but surely will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.
In the days since, tributes have poured in from neighbors, co-workers and community members who remember her as someone who always showed up — for her children, for her friends, for anyone in need of a shoulder or a smile. As one friend shared, “Maria’s gift was making you feel seen and cared for — she never gave anything but her whole heart.”
The Northern Berks Regional Police Department continues its investigation to determine the contributing factors of the crash: the time of crossing, lighting conditions, the speed and direction of the vehicles involved, and witness accounts. They are asking anyone with information to contact Officer Luke Shivery at [email protected] or by phone at 610-926-2999.
While the facts of the accident are still being assembled, what is clear is the loss of a life vibrantly lived — and deeply loved. Maria’s legacy of love, resilience and faith lives on in her children and all who experienced her presence. She embodied a quiet power and a gentle spirit.
Though she has departed this world far too soon, Maria’s light will continue to shine in the hearts of those she loved and who loved her. May her soul rest in eternal peace and her memory be a blessing for all who knew her.