Following a lengthy investigation, Pennsylvania State Police detained a 37-year-old woman on multiple charges stemming from a March accident that killed a 62-year-old man driving in Schuylkill County. The woman is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and drug possession. She was also cited for various traffic violations.
The fatal car accident took place on March 29, when the 62-year-old man was driving a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier in Mahanoy Township at about 12:30 a.m., according to authorities. While traveling west along Route 54, the man was struck head-on by an eastbound Chevrolet pickup truck that had crossed the centerline, purportedly.
As a result of the car collision, both vehicles came to a stop in the westbound lane of Route 54 facing oncoming traffic. The 62-year-old man died from injuries he suffered in the crash, and 37-year-old woman was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, authorities stated.
Prior to the head-on collision, the 37-year-old driver of the pickup truck had purportedly been involved in a hit-and-run accident, striking a 41-year-old pedestrian and fleeing the scene. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries as a result of the accident, authorities reported.
Families of people who die in traffic accidents may seek civil remedies for the financial stress that accompanies a loved one's death if there is evidence that the accident was caused by another party's actionable behavior, such as reckless or negligent driving. In specific, certain family members of the deceased accident victims may pursue a wrongful death claim against the party whose recklessness or negligence contributed to the fatal incident, seeking restitution for the economic damages they suffered in connection with the fatal crash.