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A Lebanon dump truck driver was charged Tuesday with causing the roadway death of a 73-year-old Bowmansville man and injuring his passenger.
Shane Reichard, 31 of Elm Street, faces a felony charge of homicide by vehicle, misdemeanor reckless endangerment and three traffic violations, according to court documents.
State police Trooper Jeffrey Menet investigated the April 9 crash on Route 897 in Terre Hill and filed the charges. Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson helped prepare the charges and will prosecute Reichard.
Paul Blessing was killed and his passenger, 70-year-old Mildred Witmer, was seriously hurt after their minivan was struck nearly head-on by the dump truck.
Reichard was driving south and swerved into the opposing lane while negotiating a right turn near Willow Street, according to a police affidavit.
The dump truck was traveling 52 mph while making the turn and 43 mph upon impact with the minivan, according to the affidavit.
A witness driving behind the minivan said the dump truck veered across the double yellow lines at a high speed. The minivan driver had no chance to react and the two vehicles collided nearly head-on, the witness told police.
Blessing was pronounced dead at the scene. Witmer suffered two collapsed lungs and a broken leg, according to the affidavit.
The truck was coming right at their minivan and appeared to be going very fast, Witmer told police after the crash.Reichard wasn't wearing a seat belt and his head struck the windshield, the affidavit reads. He was treated at a local hospital and released.
Reichard was in Lancaster County Prison Tuesday night in lieu of $200,000 bail. If he posts bail, District Judge Rodney Hartman ordered him to be prohibited from driving a motor vehicle.
Reichard pleaded guilty to burglary in 1995 and a drug charge in 2006, according to his arraignment form.
• Also Tuesday, Ephrata police identified the 25-year-old motorcyclist killed in a Monday afternoon crash as Jordan Horst of Sinking Spring.
Horst was riding east on Route 322 in Ephrata Township when his cycle collided with a dump truck turning left from the westbound lane onto Route 222, police said.
Horst died at Lancaster General Hospital, police said.
The truck driver, 39-year-old James Ludwig of York Springs, wasn't hurt.
Ephrata police are still investigating the crash. No charges have been filed. Anyone who witnessed the wreck should contact police at 738-9200.
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