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Duryea Man Charged With Vehicular Homicide, DUI

PITTSTON — A man who police believe was involved in a deadly DUI crash more than a year ago was charged Friday with vehicular homicide. Joseph Kaminski, 3...

PITTSTON -- A man who police believe was involved in a deadly DUI crash more than a year ago was charged Friday with vehicular homicide.

Joseph Kaminski, 38, of Duryea held back tears during his arraignment at a Pittston magistrate's office. Authorities charged him with vehicular homicide and DUI.

Police believe in December 2014, Kaminski was traveling south on River Road in Jenkins Township toward Wilkes-Barre, when, high on morphine, he crossed into the north lane, struck another car and killed the driver, Joan Ann Baiera, 71.

Court papers also show at the time of his crash, Kaminski’s license was suspended because of a separate DUI charge.

Baiera used to live on Nafus Street in Pittston. Neighbors who knew her say she was a pleasant woman.

“She was kind of a quiet person, very pretty, in fact, I saw her that morning, and I couldn't believe she was in a car accident,” said Gerald Loughney, her former neighbor.

His kids grew up with her children. Now that charges were filed, he's glad justice is being served.

The district attorney says part of the reason it took more than a year to file charges is because of the time it took to reconstruct the scene.   Kaminski's bail was set at $100,000. He's locked up in the Luzerne County Prison.

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