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Family Seeks Answers in Deadly Crash

DUNMORE — It’s been 10 months since a dump truck ran off a highway in Lackawanna County, killing brother and sister twins from New York. So far, pol...

DUNMORE -- It's been 10 months since a dump truck ran off a highway in Lackawanna County, killing brother and sister twins from New York.

So far, police have not filed any charges.

However, attorneys for the family just filed a lawsuit in hopes of holding the driver responsible.

The McKernan family is from Rochester, New York. They said since their son and daughter were killed in our area last October, they have not received many answers as to what exactly happened that day, and why the driver of the dump truck hasn't been criminally charged.

Bill and Lynn McKernan were headed to New York City last October to celebrate their 40th birthday, but they never made it.

Where the Interstates come together in Dunmore, a construction dump truck flew off one ramp and on to I-84. Then, smashed into the McKernans' car. Bill and Lynn died on impact.

The McKernan family is determined to not let their story end here.

"The process has been slow and it's been very frustrating. It just feels like its been so long," said the sister of the twins, Liz Graupman.

It's been almost ten months, and Bill and Lynn's family members have made repeated trips to Lackawanna County since the crash. This time, they came to file a federal lawsuit against the dump truck driver and the construction company he works for.

"We've been told that he was high on synthetic marijuana and he's admitted to it. And, so the frustrating part about that is why is it taking so long to charge him? When it seems as though the evidence and things that we need are there," added Bill's wife Melissa McKernan.

Newswatch 16 spoke to the Assistant District Attorney handling the McKernan's case. He couldn't say if the driver was using synthetic marijuana for sure, but did say detectives are still actively investigating even 10 months later.

The McKernan's said the longer the investigation goes on, the longer they have to wait for closure.

"We would really like to give them a voice, bring awareness to what's going on, and have people held accountable. Lynn and Bill are not able to speak anymore, we need to speak for them," said Graupman.

"If we can prevent this from happening to other families, and bring awareness, and help educate about the dangers of synthetic drugs. Then that's what we want to do," added McKernan.

The McKernan's said they hope to set a precedent with their case that could maybe lead to better ways to detect synthetic drugs in DUI cases.

The investigator Newswatch 16 spoke to couldn't tell us when or if charges will be filed, but did say some cases just take longer than others.

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