Smithfield man charged in 2013 vehicular homicide
State police alleged a Smithfield man was sending a text message while driving, and veered off the road, hitting and killing a motorcyclist.
Thomas Adams Rich, 53, was charged Wednesday with homicide by vehicle in the death of 28-year-old Brian Humbert.
Police said Rich was driving southbound on Route 119 in the evening of May 1, 2013 when his Chevrolet Silverado veered off the roadway and hit Humbert’s motorcycle, which was parked on the berm near the Route 21 off ramp.
Following the accident, Rich told police he was in the right lane, and saw the motorcycle stopped on the right side of the road “at the last second,” according to a complaint filed by Trooper Jason Delaini.
“Rich was asked if he was using his phone at the at the time of the crash and he related that he was not, but had been prior to the crash,” Delaini wrote. “Rich then consented to a search of his phone which did have a text message that was in the middle of a sentence but not sent.”
Delaini said the phone was seized and placed into evidence.
Charges were filed by Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros Wednesday afternoon and a warrant was issued. In addition to the felony homicide charge, Rich also faces summary charges of careless and reckless driving, disregarding traffic lanes and using text-based communications while driving.
The underlying offense Delaini cited in the complaint to support the homicide by vehicle charge was disregarding traffic lanes.
Several months after the accident, Ashley Humbert, Humbert’s wife, filed a wrongful death suit against Rich in Fayette County Court. The case settled earlier this year.