Charges amended in 2013 fatal motorcycle accident
Charges against a Smithfield man whom police allege was sending a text message while driving and traveled off the roadway, killing a motorcyclist, were amended at his Monday preliminary hearing.
Thomas Adams Rich, 54, appeared in central court, where Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower asked a judge to withdraw the felony charge of homicide by vehicle and replace it with a misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Magisterial District Judge Wendy Dennis granted the request, in addition to Bower’s request to withdraw a summary offenses of driving while texting and reckless driving.
Rich’s other summary citations for careless driving and disregarding traffic lanes, in addition to the involuntary manslaughter charge, were waived for court.
On the evening of May 1, 2013, Rich was allegedly driving southbound on Route 119 when his truck traveled off the roadway and hit Brian Humbert, 28, and his motorcycle. Humbert was pronounced dead at the scene.
“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,” Trooper Jason Delaini wrote in the criminal complaint filed last year. “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.”
Rich is scheduled to appear for his formal arraignment on March 17.