TREMONT — A Pottsville area woman was charged with causing the death of another woman when the ATV she was driving crashed in Foster Township last month.
Foster Township Police Chief James Nettles charged Patricia Lee Socko, 46, of 199 Brier City Road, with one misdemeanor count each of involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person; six summary counts of operation in an unsafe manner; and one summary count of operating on private or state property.
The charges against Socko were filed with Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, who scheduled a preliminary hearing for 1:45 p.m. Aug. 10 in his Tremont courtroom.
Nettles charged Socko with causing the death of Martina M. Barnhart, who was a passenger in the large Maverick ATV she was driving crashed about 9 p.m. June 3.
Nettles said the incident unfolded when Socko and other people were taking part in a Poker Run sponsored by the Clover Fire Company from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.
About 8 p.m., Nettles said, Socko wanted to drive the ATV, owned by Anthony Chiccine, and began leaving the area with Nicole Chiccine as a front-seat passenger.
Sometime later, about 9 p.m., Socko returned and picked up Garrett Eichenberg and Barnhart, who sat in the back of the ATV.
Nettles said Socko and Chiccine had their safety harnesses on, but Eichenberg and Barnhart did not. None were wearing helmets.
About two miles into the ride, Socko decided to turn around and began turning left and accelerating at the same time, Nettles said.
The rear tires of the ATV began to spin, causing the vehicle to lean to the passenger’s side and roll over onto that side, Nettles said.
Nettles said that when the ATV rolled over, the roll cage landed on Barnhart.
The chief said that Socko, Eichenberg and Chiccine tried to lift the ATV off of Barnhart but could not do so. Eichenberg called for help and several other people arrived to lift the ATV and free Barnhart.
CPR was begun, but Barnhart was pronounced dead at the scene by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Albert Barnes at 9:38 p.m., Nettles said, adding that an autopsy determined the woman died from blunt force traumatic injuries.
At the scene of the crash, on a dirt trail about three-quarters of a mile east of Valley Road, Nettles said police found several empty beer cans in and around the ATV. The chief said Socko had an odor of alcohol on her breath and agreed to be taken to a Pottsville hospital for a blood-alcohol test. Court records have no further information about the blood-alcohol tests.
Nettles also said Socko was driving in the darkness, on unfamiliar trails and in a “careless, unreasonable manner” on private property without permission of the owner.
Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013