Sunday, February 11, 2024

Homicide by Vehicle Charges Filed Against Man for Fatal Crash in Cass Township


Homicide by vehicle charges have been filed against an Ohio man for the fatal crash on Route 901 in Cass Township on Friday night.

The crash occurred around 7:30pm, when two vehicles struck head-on on Route 901 near the intersection with Live Oaks Road near Minersville.   When emergency personnel arrived on scene, heavy entrapment was reported.

The Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville reported that one of the vehicles, driven by Rodney Rivers, 46, of Youngstown, Ohio, was traveling north on Route 901 at a high rate of speed on a right curve and attempted to overtake another vehicle on the left.

A second vehicle traveling south on Route 901, driven by Elizabeth Ryan, 65, of Pottsville, struck the passing vehicle head-on.

Rivers was not injured.

Ryan and two passengers, ages 8 and 5, all sustained severe injuries.  Ryan had to be cut from the vehicle by emergency personnel.

Two medical helicopters were requested and landed at the nearby Life Flight facility.

Ryan was transported to an area hospital where she passed away.  There have been no updates on the condition of the minors.

On Sunday, the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville charged Rivers with homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault charges.  He was taken into custody and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $500,000 straight cash bail.