Criminal charges have been filed against a Chambersburg woman after she struck and killed a pedestrian in a crosswalk in May. Attorney General Bruce R. Beemer’s office revealed the charges on Friday.
A 30-year-old woman is being accused of homicide by vehicle after she struck a 71-year-old woman in the parking lot of a Giant Food Store in Chambersburg.
On May 14, video surveillance footage revealed that the defendant was waiting her turn to exit a section of the grocery store parking lot when the incident occurred. The footage shows the woman in her car waiting behind a Jeep, then turning into the oncoming traffic lane and speeding ahead to pass the vehicle in front of her.
As she sped ahead, her vehicle collided with the elderly victim who was using the crosswalk at the time. The defendant’s vehicle pushed the woman to the ground, where investigators say she suffered a major head wound.
Investigators reported that the driver’s actions were negligent to the possibility that a pedestrian could be crossing the crosswalk. Their report states that the woman made an illegal left turn to pull ahead of the Jeep so that she could beat it past the crosswalk.
The injured victim was first taken to Chambersburg Hospital and then airlifted to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to treat her injury. She was pronounced dead at the medical center three days later.
The defendant is also being charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and failure to yield to the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
During an arraignment on Friday, she was released after posting an unsecured $50,000 bail. Her trial date is set for Nov. 1.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of negligent driving, the experienced car accident attorneys at Schmidt Kramer are here to help. We provide you with a free case review to discuss how we can help and determine what compensation you may be entitled.
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