SENAVITIS TRIAL

CLOSINGS WRAP IN PA. LAWMAKER CRASH DEATH TRIAL

STROUDSBURG, PA. (AP) - CLOSING ARGUMENTS HAVE WRAPPED UP IN THE VEHICULAR HOMICIDE TRIAL OF A MAN ACCUSED OF CAUSING THE 2008 CRASH
THAT KILLED A PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKER. MONROE COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY COLLEEN MANCUSO TOLD JURORS IN MONROE COUNTY THAT 46-YEAR-OLD THOMAS SENAVITIS CROSSED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, CAUSING THE CRASH THAT KILLED STATE SEN. JAMES RHOADES ON OCT. 17, 2008, IN THE POCONOS. SHE SAYS SENAVITIS HAD A BLOOD-ALCOHOL LEVEL MORE THAN FOUR TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR DRIVING AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. SENAVITIS' ATTORNEY SAYS IT WAS RHOADES WHO CAUSED THE CRASH BY VEERING INTO THE DEFENDANT'S LANE TO AVOID A MINIVAN PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEFENSE ATTORNEY WES NIEMOCZYNSKI ALSO QUESTIONED THE RELIABILITY OF THE BLOOD TEST PERFORMED ON SENAVITIS. THE JURY IS SET TO BEGIN DELIBERATING.