A Lehighton man has been charged with vehicular homicide in a double fatality last year in Franklin Township.

Richard Failla, 48, of 120 Oak Inlet Drive, was arraigned Thursday before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton on two counts of homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence; three counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence; two counts of involuntary manslaughter; three counts of recklessly endangering another person; two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol; and one count each of careless driving, reckless driving, and driving a vehicle at an unsafe speed.According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Frank Buonaiuto of the Franklin Township Police Department:On Aug. 31, 2014, Buonaiuto and part-time officer Christopher Lekka were dispatched to Forest Street near Sawmill Drive for a reported rollover crash.The caller reported three people trapped inside. A second call from dispatch advised bystanders were attempting to roll the vehicle onto its wheels.Buonaiuto arrived at the scene at 2:22 a.m and saw a White Jeep Grand Cherokee bearing a New Jersey registration rolled over.He looked inside the vehicle and noticed that two men on the passenger side of the vehicle weren't moving at all.A man, who was visibly shaking, was walking around the vehicle with blood coming from his right knee.Buonaiuto identified him as Failla.Buonaiuto asked Failla if he was in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Failla said he was. Buonaiuto then asked if Failla was the driver.Failla replied, "No Christopher was."Failla told Buonaiuto "We're all drunk."Failla showed signs of intoxication, slurring his speech and holding himself up by leaning on the patrol vehicle.While using his cellphone, it took Failla awhile to look up his wife's number.Two deadBuonaiuto then asked for the last name of the man who Failla said was driving, Failla identified him and said, "They all work together."At that time, EMS was arriving on scene and said the two men in the vehicle were dead.Failla identified the people as Brian McGovern and Christopher Mattera.Another occupant, Matthew Friant was rushed to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, with serious injuries.Buonaiuto then asked Failla again who was driving, at which time Failla replied "Christopher."Bystanders said they helped Failla out of the Jeep through the driver's door.Due to Failla's injuries, Buonaiuto advised him to sit in the police cruiser until EMS could treat him. EMS began to treat Failla for his injuries, and took him into the ambulance. Failla's wife Lisa then arrived on scene a short time later.Driver identifiedBuonaiuto briefly spoke to Failla's wife asking what happened. His wife said they went to the Olde Schoolhouse Tavern, which is located a short distance away on Fairyland Road.EMS told Buonaiuto that while they were cutting Failla's clothes, the Jeep key fob fell out of his left front shorts pocket.The Jeep left the roadway, impacting a large rock, then trees, before it came to rest on its roof.Accident reconstruction by Pennsylvania State Police determined that Failla was driving the Jeep at the time of the incident.The Jeep was traveling 72 miles per hour about 5 seconds before the crash in a 35 mph zone, according to police.At the time the Jeep left the roadway, it was traveling 52 miles per hour.Failla told Kissner he is employed, and married with four children.Kissner set Failla's bail at $40,000 unsecured.Failla is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 11 a.m. Sept. 16 before Kissner.