Driver sentenced to six to 20 for DUI accident that killed three

Posted 4/20/18

Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin announced today that Thomas James Howey Jr., of Easton was sentenced to a period of 6 years to 20 years in state prison for his role in a one- vehicle DUI …

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Driver sentenced to six to 20 for DUI accident that killed three

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Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin announced today that Thomas James Howey Jr., of Easton was sentenced to a period of 6 years to 20 years in state prison for his role in a one- vehicle DUI crash that occurred in Greentown in 2015, that killed three men.  Howey had pled guilty on February 2nd this year to the charges of Homicide by Vehicle While DUI, Homicide by Vehicle, Driving Under the Influence and Driving at an Unsafe Speed.

On November 29, 2015, Howey was driving a 2014 Ford F-150 Pickup Truck with three passengers, Barry Foose, Jr., 46, Timothy Gerhard, 58, and Eric Dunbar 38.  All three passengers were also from the Easton area.  The men had driven to a bar in Newfoundland, then a local grocery store and were headed back to Howey’s hunting cabin while driving on Mozzette Road in Greentown.  While going around a curve, the vehicle crashed into two separate trees off the roadway.  Foose, Gerhard and Dunbar were pronounced dead at the scene after emergency personnel had responded to the location. Howey was also injured in the crash and flown by helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Through an investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, which included an accident reconstruction of the scene, it was determined that Howey was travelling at approximately 70 mph at the time of the crash on a section of road where the posted speed limit was 30 mph.  Testing of Howey’s blood alcohol level showed a result of .14%, which is well over the legal limit of .08%.

District Attorney Ray Tonkin, who prosecuted the case, thanked the State Police for their thorough investigation and stated, “while justice was served today, which appropriately included a lengthy state prison sentence, my heart goes out to the victims’ families who will be affected by this for the rest of their lives.”

Family members for both Howey and the victims testified and provided statements to acting President Judge Gregory Chelak as a part of the sentencing hearing.  Howey is currently in the Pike County Correctional Facility awaiting transfer to a state prison.  As a part of the sentencing Order, Chelak also directed Howey to pay $5,000 under the Crime Victims Act.  Howey’s operating privileges will also be subject to suspension through Pennsylvania Department of Transportation because of his convictions.   

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