Jury acquits man of vehicular homicide while DUI in 2008 crash that killed Pa. lawmaker

Acquittal in 2008 crash that killed Pa. lawmaker

STROUDSBURG, Pa. — A jury has acquitted a man of vehicular homicide while driving drunk in a 2008 crash that killed a Pennsylvania lawmaker.

Jurors in Stroudsburg decided Monday that 46-year-old Thomas Senavitis (Sehn-ah-VAI-tis’) was intoxicated but didn’t cause the crash in the Poconos that killed state Sen. James Rhoades and seriously injured his wife.

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

Senavitis’ attorney insisted that Rhoades caused the crash by veering into the defendant’s lane to avoid a minivan parked on the side of the road.

Jurors did convict Senavitis on reckless endangerment and drunken driving charges. He could get up to two years on the reckless endangerment charge.