- A Berks County man convicted of homicide by vehicle and related charges in a 2021 crash on Hamilton Boulevard in Upper Macungie Township was sentenced to 6-15 years in prison
- Jonathan A. Richards of Shillington was found to have a blood-alcohol ratio of 0.24% at the time — three times the level at which state law says is too drunk to drive
- Wadnor Jean Louis, 26, of York, York County, was killed in the crash
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Berks County man convicted of homicide by vehicle in a fatal crash more than two years ago in Upper Macungie Township has been sentenced to 6 to 15 years in prison.
Jonathan A. Richards, 40, of Shillington, was convicted on Aug. 3 after a jury trial.
Richards was convicted of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and seven other charges, including involuntary manslaughter. Richards also was found guilty on several other DUI-related charges, as well as careless and reckless driving.
Surveillance footage showed Richards was driving his Jeep in the wrong lanes of traffic on Hamilton Boulevard at Farmington Road at 4:41 a.m. Jan. 17, 2021, when he crashed “nearly head-on” into a car driven by Wadnor Jean Louis, 26, of York, York County, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin.
Wadnor Jean Louis, was found deceased inside his vehicle and the second driver, identified as Richards, was seriously injured and taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Louis died from multiple blunt force injuries and his death was ruled accidental by the Lehigh County Coroner.
At the time of the crash, Richards’ blood-alcohol level was 0.24% — more than twice the level of 0.08% that state law considers too drunk to drive.
