MOUNT CARMEL - A Shamokin area man charged in connection with a two-vehicle accident last year that claimed the life of 27-year-old Elysburg firefighter Brian Stanley was found guilty Tuesday of two summary offenses.
Christopher Long, 49, of 4684 Upper Road, was found guilty of careless driving and failure to drive in a single lane by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones during a 45-minute summary trial held despite Long's absence. Long, who was found guilty by Jones in November of a seat belt violation and a registration of certificate and title violation in connection with the July 14 accident, requested a continuance Tuesday because of a snowstorm. But Jones, who had continued the case multiple times, denied the continuance and allowed the hearing to proceed because two witnesses were able to attend despite the inclement weather, he said.
Testifying for the commonwealth were arresting officer Trooper Daniel Wilk of state police at Stonington and accident witnesses Dr. Dwain Rogers of Elysburg and Donald Kellenberger of Adamstown. Jones said Rogers, who provided medical assistance at the accident scene, works in Titusville.
Long was ordered to pay $855 in fines and costs on the four summary violations.
State police said Stanley was driving a 1990 Toyota that was struck head-on by a 1994 Dodge Dakota driven west on the highway by Long. The crash occurred on Route 54 between Elysburg and Riverside, near High Road in Rush Township.
Long and a 13-year-old male passenger from Shamokin suffered major injuries and were transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.