Friday marks 60 days since a tragic crash occurred on Route 209 between Jim Thorpe and Nesquehoning. A police cruiser collided with a passenger car, resulting in a woman's death.

Nesquehoning police officer Steven Homanko was traveling from Nesquehoning toward Jim Thorpe when the incident occurred.His police car collided with a car driven by Michael Sauers, 64, of Hazleton. Sauers was hospitalized. His wife, Carola, 69, was killed.According to state police, Homanko lost control of the 2009 Crown Victoria police cruiser as he rounded a curve about one and one-half miles north of the intersection of routes 209 and 93, between Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe.The cruiser crossed into the oncoming lane and the rear end of the vehicle struck a 2007 Toyota Yaris, driven by Michael Sauers.To date, no charges have been filed in the accident. No results of the investigation have been publicized.This is not uncommon.Reconstruction experts examined the scene. Laboratory facilities looked at evidence.Sometimes completing the investigation can take months.Police can't rush an investigation because error could not only jeopardize a case police might have but also result in innocent parties receiving unjust treatment.Often we get police reports that show an arrest occurs months after the infraction, and this is because the investigation, usually lab results, take so long.So it isn't out of the ordinary for the investigation of a fatality to take a long time to be completed.Sixty days seems like a long time. But there's no intentional delay. The results of this crash, and any charges that might potentially evolve, will become public record.And we at the Times News will report on it.Meanwhile, people must remain patient.From the beginning the investigation was handled professionally. Local police called in the state police to handle it since it involved a local officer.The police officer involved has been suspended without pay pending the results of the investigation, which means he isn't working for Nesquehoning borough.If any charges are warranted, the state police will file them.And we will report on it.By RON GOWERrgower@tnonline.com