The preliminary hearing for Nesquehoning patrolman Steven Homanko, charged with homicide by vehicle for a fatal crash last May, has been continued.

The hearing for Homanko, 26, of Beaver Meadows, was scheduled today before District Judge Casimir Kosciolek of Lansford.The recusal was made because District Judge Joseph Homanko, of Weatherly, is the defendant's father. To spare any question of conflict the recusal was requested by Kosciolek, Homanko, Edward Lewis, Jim Thorpe, and William Kissner, Palmerton.Carbon County President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II granted their request for recusal.The state will assign a senior district judge from outside the county to hear the matter. A new date for the hearing cannot be set until an appointment is made. The hearing will still be held in Kosciolek's office.Homanko is also charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, careless driving, driving a vehicle at an unsafe speed and failure to drive on the right side of the road.Homanko was charged in connection with a crash that occurred on May 12, 2014, along Route 209 in Nesquehoning.Homanko was operating a marked borough police cruiser when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed over the center line, and collided into a 2007 Toyota Yaris operated by Michael Sauers, 64, of Hazleton. Killed in the crash was Sauers' wife, Carola, 69.Homanko had radioed dispatchers at the county communications center that he was attempting to stop a Dodge Neon for a traffic violation at the time.Among the allegations made by state police at Lehighton, was that Homanko was traveling at a speed estimated at 113 mph.The case is being prosecuted the Attorney General's office. The county district attorney's office asked the AG office to take over the case because it deals regularly with the Nesquehoning police and because it has prosecuted cases filed by Homanko.