Dec. 11--TUNKHANNOCK -- A Tunkhannock man is facing a homicide by vehicle charge for a crash that killed a fellow emergency responder who was a passenger in the truck.
Jeffrey Allen Plata, 29, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person and careless driving in connection with the May 22 crash that claimed the life of Thomas Gruen.
Plata lost control of his 2011 Dodge pickup truck while traveling north on Route 92 around 8:30 p.m. Plata and Gruen were members of the Tunkhannock Community Ambulance Association responding to another vehicle collision in Eaton Township, about four miles away.
Gruen was taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton and died a few hours later.
It had been raining heavily that night and there were puddles of rainwater on the road, according to police. After analyzing the truck's air bag module, investigators discovered the vehicle was traveling 74 mph just prior to the wreck. The posted speed limit there is 45 mph.
Plata repeatedly stated he did not remember what happened at the time of the crash but recalled telling an officer that Gruen was still in the truck when it came to a stop.
An eyewitness who called 911 after the wreck told police Gruen was stuck in the passenger seat but Plata had gotten out of the truck.
Plata remains free on $15,000 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 19.
Copyright 2013 - The Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
