Man charged with killing motorcyclists to face trial
CONNELLSVILLE – A Confluence man charged with causing the deaths of two motorcyclists will face trial in Fayette County court. Clarence E. Beachy sat quietly as members of the victim’s families embraced after District Justice Ronald Haggerty ruled the two counts of homicide by vehicle, careless driving and reckless endangerment charges would be bound over for court following nearly an hour of testimony during the Wednesday preliminary hearing.
“We’ve waited a long time,” said an unidentified person as she consoled a woman who was weeping after hearing Haggerty’s ruling.
The accident took place nearly a year ago, but the charges were not filed until August.
Beachy, 79, was driving a 2001 Ford Escape in the southbound lane of Route 711 (Springfield Pike) in Connellsville Township on Oct. 21, 2001, and struck a vehicle that was stopped to make a left hand turn into a private driveway.
After striking the 1997 Pontiac sedan driven by David Nicholson, Beachy’s vehicle entered the northbound lane and struck a motorcycle being operated by Joseph W. Ehland III.
A second motorcyclist, Jonathan G. Kranik, swerved to avoid the collision and struck a tree.
Both Ehland, 44, of McDonald and Kranik, 27, of Perryopolis died in the crash.
Lynn Kubitza of Fayette City, testified that approximately 13 motorcycles were traveling in a staggered pattern along the roadway on their way to Sevens Springs Resort for lunch when the accident took place.
Kubitza said he saw the Pontiac had stopped and knew that it was the driver’s intention to cross over the cyclist’s lane of travel after they had passed through, but grew concerned about a second vehicle he could see quickly approaching the same area.
“I feared if (the second vehicle) hit the stopped car it would be coming straight for me,” Kubitza told prosecutor Mark Brooks, assistant Fayette County District Attorney. “It was coming at a high rate of speed.”
Kubitza said he watched as Beachy struck the sedan and the vehicle then collided with Ehland’s motorcycle.
“(Kranik) hit his brakes and his front tire hit the bank,” Kubitza testified.
Throughout the hearing, defense attorney Daniel Rullo speculated that Beachy’s vision was impaired as he traveled through a shaded area into an area bright with sunlight, but state police Cpl. Joseph D’Andrea said he did not take the issue into account when determining to file the charges.
“What aggravating circumstances did you take into account?” questioned Rullo. “Was he driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Did you determine there was sleep deprivation or was speed a factor?”
D’Andrea responded that none of circumstances suggested by Rullo were evident through his investigation, but criminal negligence was a factor in the cause of the accident because Beachy had struck a stopped car and crossed over the double yellow line that divided the highway.
Attorney Richard Bower, who also served as defense counsel argued during closing statements that because of a lack of aggravating circumstances, the criminal charges should be dismissed.
“It is a tragedy that two people died, but this is ordinary negligence, not criminal negligence,” he said.
Brooks argued that Beachy failed to pay attention to what was going on around him and should be held accountable for the deaths of Ehland and Kranik.
“He was driving too fast and inattentive to what was going on,” said Brooks.
Haggerty ruled that all of the charges be heard in Fayette County court.
Beachy remains free on a recognizance bond.