Jury acquits driver in 2008 crash that killed Pa. senator

March 16, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

STROUDSBURG, Pa.

A jury on Monday acquitted a man of vehicular homicide while driving drunk in a 2008 crash that killed a state lawmaker.

Jurors in Stroudsburg decided that Thomas Senavitis was highly intoxicated but did not cause the crash on state Route 209 in the Poconos that killed state Sen. James Rhoades and seriously injured his wife.

Prosecutors alleged Senavitis, 46, of Kunkletown, had a blood-alcohol level more than four times the legal limit for driving and that his pickup truck crossed a center line and hit Rhoades’ Cadillac sedan.

Senavitis was acquitted of homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault while DUI and vehicular homicide. He was convicted of reckless-endangerment and drunken-driving charges.

Senavitis, who already has spent about nine months in jail, could get up to two years on the reckless-endangerment charge, said his attorney, Wes Niemoczynski. Bail was denied pending sentencing.

The auto mechanic showed no emotion as the verdict was read, and he did not comment to reporters as he was led out of the courtroom. His wife, Dolores Senavitis, 45, told reporters that the family was gratified by the verdict but that her husband would appeal the convictions. Senavitis has denied being drunk.

“I’m happy about what happened,” his wife said. “I’m surprised there was a nice, fair jury and they actually paid attention to what was going on.”

Mary Edith Rhoades, who was seriously injured in the crash, thanked the jury and said her family accepted the verdict in a difficult case.

Rhoades, a seven-term Republican from Schuylkill County who was running for re-election, was driving to a high school to pick up an award when the collision happened around dusk Oct. 17, 2008.

Niemoczynski argued Monday that Rhoades, likely tired after a full day of campaigning, caused the crash by drifting into the defendant’s southbound lane.