SCRANTON -- Police say the driver who caused a deadly crash in Lackawanna County was high on a pain medication he didn't have a prescription for.
He is now charged with the death of an elderly woman.
That crash was on January 16. The victim, Helen Cordelli, 82, of Olyphant died from her injuries about two weeks later.
On Thursday, the driver of the car that hit Cordelli was at the Lackawanna County Courthouse. Harry Wasilko of Scranton turned himself in to face homicide by motor vehicle charges for that crash three months ago.
Joe Mazzoni remembers January 16 very well. He was working at his barber shop in Peckville when he heard a loud crash. Two cars collided right in front of his shop window. Mazzoni rushed out to help.
"People were already helping them out, opening the doors. One door was torn off the car. The front wheel was torn off both the cars. It was a pretty good mess. But, I know, Pete's my customer."
Pete Cordelli and his wife Helen were inside the black car. Witnesses said the silver car swerved into their lane.
Helen Cordelli died two weeks later from the injuries she suffered in the crash.
Now, more than three months later, the other driver, Harry Wasilko of Scranton, turned himself in to face charges of homicide by motor vehicle.
According to court papers, police had already been called that day about Wasilko's erratic driving.
After the crash, doctors found Xanax stuffed in Wasilko's sock. Police say he was high on Oxycodone. Wasilko didn't have a prescription for either.
"Typically when people read the headlines or see the stories on the news, it is an alcohol-involved crash, and it is 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. This shows the dangerous and destructive decisions that can be made with any type of drugs. Here it is prescription drugs and its early afternoon," said Lackawanna County Assistant District Attorney Shane Scanlon.
"These cases are never easy, but right now we're at the start of this case and there's a lot of evidence that we really need to critically look at before any decisions are made. But, again, this is a no win situation for anyone," said Wasilko's attorney Corey Kolcharno.
Harry Wasilko was sent to jail after his arraignment on $50,000 bail.
Back in Peckville, Joe Mazzoni is relieved there's an explanation to the crash outside his window and that someone may be held accountable for Helen Cordelli's death.
"Well, I'm not judge and jury, but I mean, if somebody has to be held accountable, somebody has to be held accountable. They have to be responsible for their actions."
Wasilko is facing several other charges along with that homicide by motor vehicle charge. He's charged with DUI, reckless driving, plus police say at the time of the crash, Wasilko's license was expired.
