Slate Belt
John P. Heaney III, suspect in Route 512 fatal crash in Bangor, charged - UPDATE
Updated Jan 03, 2019; Posted Jul 13, 2011
By Michael Buck | The Express-Times
Express-Times Photo | BILL ADAMSJohn P. Heaney III is led from his arraignment, where he was charged for his role in a July 1 double-fatal motorcycle accident in Bangor.
John P. Heaney III
, the man suspected of causing a
double-fatal motorcycle accident on Route 512 in Bangor
, has been charged, according to court records.
Heaney, 49, of the first block of Jade Lane in
Lopatcong Township
, was arraigned this morning before District Judge Todd Strohe in
He is charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving drunk, four counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving drunk, homicide by vehicle, four counts of aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering other persons and related summary offenses. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $50,000 bail.
At a news conference this morning, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said Heaney faces a mandatory sentence of six years in prison if convicted on both counts of homicide by vehicle while driving drunk.
Morganelli said Heaney faces 30 to 60 years if convicted on all of the charges. That figure accounts for merger of some charges during sentencing.
Two dead in Slate Belt motorcycle pileup
Gallery: Two dead in Slate Belt motorcycle pileup
Charges come about two weeks after a pickup truck driven by Heaney plowed into a group of motorcyclists on Route 512 in Bangor.
Keith Michaelson
, 52, of West Milford, Passaic County, and
Michael Zadoyko
, 47, of Pompton Lakes, Passaic County,
died at the crash site
Michaelson was leading members of the Last Chance Motorcycle Club, a group of clean and sober riders who were headed to a fellow member's viewing in Monroe County, a member of the group previously said.
Court records say that Heaney was driving south on Route 512 when he crossed the center line and plowed into the group of motorcyclists. One of the motorcycles exploded into flames on impact, records say.
Police at the scene noticed a smell of alcohol coming from Heaney and he blew a 0.11 on a preliminary breath test, records say. He failed field sobriety tests and was taken to the Northampton County drunken-driving processing center, where he refused to have his blood drawn.
Click here to read the affidavit of probable cause in which Bangor police officer Michael Hunsicker describes what happened when he responded to the crash.
Morganelli said the preliminary breath test reading is not admissible in court, but his office will prove their case "the old-fashioned way." Morganelli said Heaney also admitted to drinking prior to the crash, but said "I am fine, they were in my lane."
Heaney continued to maintain he did not cross the center line and that he was "struck by a motorcycle that appeared to be passing."
A few days after the crash, someone started a Facebook page calling for authorities to expedite their investigation and level charges against Heaney, who is a former police officer.
Morganelli said the investigation has been conducted like any other and balked at allegations of preferential treatment.
Morganelli said police continue to investigate the crash and seek witnesses who saw Heaney before the crash and piece together what he did that day.