DA: Leechburg man was the driver in fatal crash
LEECHBURG — The Armstrong County District Attorney said there's “no question” that George Zachary “Zach” Senko was driving the Ford Ranger pickup truck that struck and killed a motorcyclist and his fiancee May 1 in Parks.
District Attorney Scott Andreassi also said he believes there's evidence that Senko of Leechburg was drinking alcohol before that night's crash.
But because Senko allegedly fled from the pickup truck after it wrecked into the motorcycle, there's no evidence of drunken driving, Andreassi said.
Andreassi provided this update yesterday, the day Senko was to have his preliminary hearing on charges stemming from the deaths of motorcyclist Thomas Parks, 34, and his fiancee, Candice Byers, 45, both of Bethel Township.
Witnesses told police that the pickup truck drove out of Lower Mateer Road and didn't stop at the stop sign at Alternate Route 66. The motorcycle was heading north, toward Ford City.
Ambulance crews pronounced both Parks and Byers dead at the scene.
Senko turns 19 tomorrow. He has been in the Armstrong County Jail on $100,000 straight bond ever since May 3, when he turned himself into police.
Instead of having a preliminary hearing yesterday, Senko waived charges to court. The most serious charges are two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Together, both counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years of jail time, Andreassi said.
In exchange for the waiver, Andreassi withdrew charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault and driving without a license. Andreassi said a person cannot be tried for both homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter.
Senko wouldn't comment yesterday as he was led to a patrol car to go back to the jail. His bond is still $100,000.
His county court arraignment should take place sometime in September, Andreassi said.
At the time of the crash, there were three juveniles and one adult in the pickup truck in addition to Senko, according to Parks Township Police Sgt. John Arce.
The three juveniles are cooperating with the police investigation, Arce and Andreassi said. But police haven't been able to get in touch with the other adult, Arce said.
Other charges that Senko waived to court yesterday include reckless driving, accidents resulting in death and failure to render aid.
Jonathan Szish is a staff writer for the Valley News Dispatch, Tarentum.
