A Berks County man is charged with causing a four-vehicle crash that killed two people last year In Salisbury Township.
Jeffrey R. Gable, 21, of Mohnton, also is charged regarding serious injuries to a third person involved in the Oct. 7, 2016, crash on Route 30 near Hoffmeier Road.
Gable, driving a non-emergency transport ambulance with a passenger, was speeding and veered into opposing traffic when he struck a vehicle head-on, causing impact with two more vehicles.
Doris Waltz, a 60-year-old passenger in Gable’s vehicle, was killed, as was Jason Oswald, the 43-year-old driver of a Hyundai Sonata struck head-on. Gable was transporting Waltz, who was in a wheelchair in the rear passenger area, to an area nursing home.
Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. James Mooney recently filed charges, including two counts of vehicular homicide and aggravated assault by vehicle. Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson approved the charges.
District Judge Raymond Sheller arraigned Gable on Tuesday afternoon and set bail at $250,000 unsecured, meaning Gable is free until his next court appearance.
State police provide the following narrative of the crash:
Gable’s Ford Trust Ambulance was traveling west on Route 30, in a 45 mph zone, prior to the 10 a.m. crash. At the location, there are two eastbound lanes.
A witness who was driving behind Gable told police the Trust Ambulance veered into eastbound traffic, causing multiple vehicles to swerve to avoid collision. The witness said the Trust Ambulance did not brake. The witness saw the head-on collision, which happened in the right eastbound lane.
Police determined the Trust Ambulance was traveling 64 mph prior to collision.
A box truck driver told police the Trust Ambulance was swerving back-and-forth in the west and east lanes. The Trust Ambulance suddenly swerved into the right eastbound lane and struck the Sonata head-on, the witness reported. That caused the collision with the box truck and another Hyundai. The driver of the Hyundai sustained serious injuries.
Autopsies determined Waltz and Oswald died of traumatic injuries sustained in the crash.
Gable is also charged with two counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment and four summary violations.
Gable is presumed innocent.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright