HONESDALE, Pa. — A jury in Wayne County found a Dunmore man guilty Friday on charges connected to a deadly wreck more than 2½ years ago in Texas Township.
James Gerrity, 62, was convicted after a three-day trial of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person and several traffic offenses, court records show.
Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell said in a statement that Gerrity ate cookies while driving July 26, 2021, on state Route 6 to try and treat his low blood sugar. That “reckless choice” led to a crash that claimed the life of Lou Radell and injured Radell’s wife, Mary.
“If he had pulled over and ate his cookies while stopped then Mary Radell would not have been seriously injured and Lou Radell would not have been killed,” Howell said. “We all have an obligation to keep our roads as safe as possible by staying alert to our surroundings, our vehicles, and ourselves.”
Gerrity’s attorney, Bernard Brown, said he was “disappointed” by the jury’s decision. He and his client are looking into filing an appeal.
“I’m not sure what the jury saw,” Brown said.
Gerrity and Radell collided around 7 a.m. Authorities said Gerrity crossed into another driving lane.
Lou Radell, 83, died during surgery at Geisinger Community Medical Center roughly 3½ hours after the crash.
Brown argued that that Gerrity was not “reckless.” Gerrity is diabetic and had a low blood sugar episode.
However, prosecutors said Gerrity claimed he ate cookies while driving to try and treat his low blood sugar.
They also argued Gerrity’s glucose readings were within “normal ranges” leading up to the crash.
His glucose monitor showed his blood sugar level was 94 an hour before the collision with Radell, Howell said in an email. An EMT checked it at the scene and found it to be 99.
Howell said an eyewitness at the crash scene claimed Gerrity was “awake, aware, conscious, alert and responsive” and that he refused medical treatment.
Jurors deliberated for about two hours before they returned a verdict, Howell said. Three of the jurors work in medicine, though no one on the jury was diabetic, Brown said.
Gerrity is scheduled for sentencing April 18, court records show.
