Pa. driver charged in deaths of charity walkers, both 72, from Puerto Rico
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A central Pennsylvania man was charged with careless driving in the deaths of a couple who were struck as they walked to a fundraiser.
David K. Shiery, 47, of Enola, was speeding when his pickup struck Able Seda and his wife, Carmen Sanchez-Seda, both 72, on Oct. 6, authorities said. The speed was not high enough to warrant vehicular homicide charges, city spokesman Matthew Coulter said. The posted speed limit in the area is 35 mph.
The victims were on their way to a diabetes fundraising walk, which began on City Island. They had recently moved to Harrisburg from Puerto Rico, officials said.
Shiery was charged with two counts of careless driving causing death. Court records show he has three previous traffic convictions since 2002 for disregarding traffic devices in the area.
The impact threw the couple 70 to 80 feet and caused significant damage to the truck, denting the bumper and crushing the hood, Harrisburg Police Chief Charles Kellar said.
Carmen Sanchez-Seda died at the scene while Able Seda died the next morning at a hospital, police said.
Shiery has been sent a summons to appear in court, records show.
A man who answered an Associated Press call to Shiery’s home Saturday hung up.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
NY police: Teen driver on drugs runs down joggers
By FRANK ELTMAN
Associated Press Writer
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) _ A teenager on drugs and driving a sport utility vehicle slammed into two runners out for an evening jog, killing one of them — a beloved schoolteacher — and seriously injuring her friend, police said Friday.
Shea Rosen, a 19-year-old from the exclusive village of Brookville on Long Island, was being held in lieu of $1 million bond after pleading not guilty to driving under the influence.
Rosen’s attorney, former federal prosecutor Joseph Conway, declined to comment on the high bond amount but said his client’s family was unlikely to post it Friday.
Rosen, who works as a busboy and waiter at a Huntington restaurant, had no prior criminal record, his lawyer and police said.
Amanda Malloy, a 29-year-old who competed in triathlons and taught fourth grade at John F. Kennedy Intermediate School in Deer Park, was pronounced dead at a hospital after being run down about 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Her running companion, Vincent Saunders, 32, of Huntington, was hospitalized and not expected to survive, Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Avemaria Thompson said at Rosen’s arraignment.
The prosecutor said police smelled marijuana on Rosen’s breath after the accident on a busy stretch of a Huntington highway.
More than 12 hours after the accident, Rosen’s 2000 Dodge Durango remained at the accident scene, and a lone woman’s jogging sneaker lay on the pavement nearby.
Three unidentified pills were found in Rosen’s sock, Thompson said. She said Rosen told police he didn’t see the joggers in the road.
Rosen, whose Facebook page features a photo of him flipping his middle finger to the camera, was initially charged with driving under the influence of drugs, but the prosecutor said upgraded charges were likely.
Conway said his office was still trying to ascertain what happened. “Our hearts, of course, go out to the victims’ families,” he said.
Malloy’s sister-in-law described her as a physical fitness enthusiast who often competed in triathlons and was an expert in the martial arts.
“Her life was exercising,” said Christine MacQuarrie, who also taught at Kennedy. “It is ironic that she died doing what she loved.”
Saunders and Malloy were friends who attended the same karate school and shared the same interests in exercise, MacQuarrie said.
Deer Park School Superintendent Elizabeth Marino said in a statement that grief counselors were at the school for staff and students.
“As an expert in the martial arts, she took pride in sharing her knowledge with students through well-received assemblies,” Marino said. “Amanda was loved and admired by her colleagues and students alike and highly respected by administration.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
Evansville Woman Dies in Crash with County Coroner Vehicle
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Marguerite Stewart, 89, was fatally injured when the car she was riding in struck a pickup truck belonging to the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s office. Coroner Don Erk said the cause of death appeared to be head trauma, but that the Warrick County coroner would handle the investigation and follow-up with family because one of Erk’s staff vehicles was involved.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
DomRep issues warrant for NY Mets pitcher Burgos
By DIONISIO SOLDEVILA
Associated Press Writer
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) _ Authorities in the Dominican Republic issued an arrest warrant Friday for New York Mets pitcher Ambiorix Burgos after a crash involving his SUV that killed two women.
Burgos is accused of abandoning the victims and fleeing, charges that can carry six months to two years in prison, Prosecutor Raul Quiroz told The Associated Press.
“We recommend that Mr. Burgos turn himself in so we can start the judicial process,” Quiroz said.
The Hummer truck registered to the reliever struck pedestrians Josefina Minaya Martinez, 38, and Angely Fana, 29, on Tuesday in the town of Nagua, north of the Dominican capital, according to police. The victims later died at a hospital.
Police have said witnesses told them Burgos was the driver, even though his cousin Edwin Silvestre Sanchez claimed to be behind the wheel.
Sanchez was released from police custody Friday, but he still could face charges as a possible accomplice, Quiroz said.
Quiroz said Burgos was recently arrested on an unrelated charge of illegal weapon possession, and released after posting a US$3,000 bond.
Burgos also was arrested last month in New York on assault and harassment charges after allegedly throwing his girlfriend to the ground. He has appeared in court on those charges but did not enter a plea, according to prosecutors. He’s due in U.S. court again Oct. 23 and faces up to a year in jail if convicted of the more serious misdemeanor assault charge.
Burgos, 24, has not thrown in the major leagues since last year and spent the past season on the disabled list following elbow ligament replacement surgery. He pitched in the minors last month while on a rehabilitation assignment.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.