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Man charged in crash in which wife died

UNITYVILLE — Involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges have been filed against Berwick resident Robert Glen Killian, who was drunk when he crashed his motorcycle on Route 118 in early September, killing his wife, a passenger, state police alleged in court papers.

Killian’s blood-alcohol level was .14 when his motorcycle struck an embankment and overturned, throwing off him and wife, Rhonda, on Whitenight Road in Jordan Township about 6:40 p.m. Sept. 3, Trooper Jason A. Zachariah said.

Neither one was was wearing a helmet, he added.

While Killian, 56 was flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, his wife, also 56, was taken to Muncy Valley Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival, Zachariah said.

A firefighter treating Killian at the scene told investigators that he could “smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage” on the man, who told the emergency responder that he “had been drinking,” Zachariah wrote in an affidavit.

Killian lost control of motorcycle on a curve as he was traveling east on Route 118, Zachariah said. The bike “veered off the right side of the road and traveled along the gravel shoulder before striking a guardrail,” the trooper said.

The motorcycle went airborne when its undercarriage struck an embankment, he added.

Another motorcyclist riding with the couple estimated Killian was traveling about 60 mph, Zachariah said.

In addition to homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter, Killian has been charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, careless driving and speeding.

Following his arraignment before District Judge Jon E. Kemp, Killian was released on $50,000 bail.

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