By SANDRA K. REABUCK
SREABUCK@TRIBDEM.COM
EBENSBURG – A 20-year-old Cresson woman faces a preliminary hearing Jan. 28 on involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges in a traffic accident in which her two young passengers were killed in 2007.
State police have filed the charges against Beverly Ann Hughes, who was then 18, of the 200 block of Liberty Avenue.
The accident happened around 3:30 p.m. Sept. 5, 2007, along the Munster-Loretto Road in Munster Township.
The victims were 13-year-old Tyler Montgomery and 10-year-old Sydnie Estep, both of Cresson, who were middle school students in Penn Cambria School District. The two children and Hughes were cousins, authorities said at the time.
The driver allegedly had been joy-riding and traveling at a high rate of speed across elevated railroad tracks “to have fun with her two occupants,” Trooper Bruce Bocci said in a sworn affidavit.
The airborne vehicle crashed into a tree, killing both the front-seat passenger and the right rear-seat passenger.
Although it was reported that Hughes received minor injuries and had been taken to Memorial Medical Center, Bocci said in the affidavit that the woman had not been injured in the crash.
Both children, who were wearing seatbelts, died of blunt-force trauma, Coroner Dennis Kwiatkowski said.
Hughes faces two involuntary manslaughter charges and one count of vehicular homicide. She also is charged with careless driving, driving across the elevated tracks at a speed greater than what can be maintained safely, driving at an unsafe speed, driving on the wrong side of the road and reckless driving.
The charges were filed before District Judge Galen Decort of Portage, who will hold the preliminary hearing.
While the charges do not estimate her speed at the time of the accident, the trooper said that the posted speed limit is 45 mph on the road with a recommended posted speed of 35 mph at the elevated tracks.
The deaths of the two young Cresson cousins left the community in shock.
Tyler was the son of Michael and Leah Estep Montgomery. Sydnie was the daughter of Allen and Mary E. Murray Estep.
Hughes, who is represented by Public Defender Kenneth Sottile, will be arraigned before the preliminary hearing. The prosecution’s case is being handled by Assistant District Attorney Wayne Langerholc.
Local News
Woman faces charges in fatal accident
- Local News
-
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
-
Community Event is ‘fun for the kids’
The annual Johnstown Community Event held Saturday was a big hit in many ways.
-
Fielding interest: With new rec facility, leaders hope to sell old site
Borough Council leaders here find they are about to get into the real estate business, from the sellers’ end that is.
-
Richland weighs $2.1M offer for land
Richland School District officials will take time, likely a month, to weigh an Ohio developer’s Rachel Hill school land offer.
-
Officials cool on tax plan
Two state lawmakers from the area agree that a proposal to eliminate school property taxes with revenues from increases in the state personal income and state sales taxes has little chance of success anytime soon.
-
Portage store serves up a helping of history
Gone are the days when Schoenfeld’s Department Store sold ladies apparel, men’s suits and children’s shoes.
-
BILL EGGERT | Disco dancing days
-
BILL FINDLEY | Johnstown area is a great place for young adults to live and work
Looking for a great place to live and work? If you are like most people, your list would likely include a multitude of factors to consider in the selection process – such things as job opportunities, less stress, reasonable living costs, and plenty of fun things to do.
- Cambria County Court Report 05/27/2012
- Local business briefs 5/27/2012
- More Local News Headlines
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
