Sep 15, 2016 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – A Kentucky man who caused a fatal three-vehicle crash in Jefferson more than two years ago pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide Tuesday and was sentenced to 90 days to 23 ½ months in jail.

Jonathan A. Tucker, 28, of Jenkins, Ky., was driving a pickup truck March 30, 2014, when he ran a stop sign on Pine Street at Route 188.

His vehicle crashed into a car on Route 188 driven by Erin L. Bookhardt, 72, of Hiller, who died from his injuries two weeks later. Bookhardt’s vehicle was pushed into the oncoming lane where it collided with another pickup truck, injuring two additional people.

Tucker appeared before Greene County Judge Lou Dayich, who accepted a plea offer presented by Greene County District Attorney Marjorie Fox.

In his sentencing order, Dayich said he believed the offer was appropriate given Tucker had no prior record, has a young family and is gainfully employed. He also noted there was no evidence Tucker was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.

In addition to the charge of vehicular homicide, Tucker pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle and three counts each of reckless endangerment and careless driving. He was fined $550.

Police said Tucker was traveling south on Pine Street at 49 miles per hour when he drove through the stop sign and crashed into Bookhardt’s car, which was traveling west on Route 188 and had the right of way.

Bookhardt’s car then struck the pickup truck in the oncoming lane and ended up on its driver’s side leaning against a utility pole.

The people in the other pickup truck, Wiley and Mary Barnhart, suffered numerous broken ribs in the crash.

Mary Barnhart also suffered a concussion, broken sternum and permanent paralysis of her right vocal cord, police said.

Bookhardt was taken by helicopter to Allegheny General hospital in Pittsburgh, where he died two weeks later from injuries suffered in the crash. Tucker was not injured in the crash.