A Nesquehoning police officer who has been on leave for nearly two years after he caused a fatal crash has been terminated by the borough.

Following a brief executive session Wednesday, council voted unanimously to end the employment of part-time officer Steven Homanko, 27, of Beaver Meadows, effective immediately.Council President David Hawk said the action followed the results of an internal investigation conducted by the Nesquehoning Police Department.On July 29, 2015, borough council hired attorney James Scallion of Milnesville at $125 per hour to assist police with the investigation regarding Homanko’s crash in May 2014 that killed one and severely injured another.Homanko had been on unpaid administrative leave since May 28, 2014, but was still considered an employee of the borough.Homanko, who was 25 at the time of the crash, faces charges of homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault by a vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, and other charges. If convicted, he can face up to seven years in prison for the homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault charges.The crash happened just before 6:30 p.m. on May 12, 2014. At that time, Homanko had been with the police department for 10 months. He also worked part-time for the McAdoo police department.According to scanner reports, Homanko told dispatchers he was attempting to stop a yellow Dodge Neon when he lost control of his 2009 Crown Victoria along Route 209 between Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe. The vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane and collided with a 2007 Toyota Yaris, killing 69-year-old Carola Sauers and severely injuring her husband, Michael, 64, who was the driver.The Sauerses were from Hazleton but had ties to Carbon and Monroe counties. Michael Sauers was a second-grade teacher in the Pleasant Valley School District. Carola, born in Germany, was a physical therapy assistant.“I just crashed. I just crashed ... I need medics,” Homanko told dispatchers at 6:22 p.m., scanner reports stated.Homanko was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, where he was treated and released. The Sauerses were flown to St. Luke’s University Hospital-Bethlehem Campus. Carola was pronounced dead at the hospital. Michael was hospitalized for severe injuries.On May 28, 2014, Nesquehoning Borough Council placed Homanko on leave until the completion of the investigation. He had not worked another shift since that date.Homanko was formally charged by state police on May 6, 2015, six days short of the one-year anniversary of the crash, by Pennsylvania State Police and the state Attorney General’s office after their investigation revealed that he was traveling 113 mph in the 55 zone.The affidavit from the investigation stated that Homanko told Cpl. Shawn Noonan he “believed he never exceeded 70 mph” during the chase.He was asked several times about his speed, and each time said he did not recall going faster than 70 mph.Noonan also wrote that Homanko’s cruiser was equipped with a video camera that automatically activated when the lights and sirens came on. The camera began recording as Homanko sat on Route 93. It showed a yellow Neon, heading north, passing a truck at the intersection with Route 209 at 6:21:19 p.m.The video shows Homanko turning left onto Route 209, also heading north. He radioed the Carbon County Communications Center, asking Jim Thorpe police to go to the area known as “the Liberties,” the first exit off Route 209 for 3 miles, as he was trying to stop the Neon.Sixteen seconds later, “the footage then abruptly stops,” Noonan wrote.Homanko told Noonan he had no explanation as to why the recording stopped.He was arraigned before District Judge Casimir Kosciolek of Lansford but remained free on $100,000 unsecured bail, meaning he did not have to post cash or property to remain free.On June 30, Homanko’s charges were bound over to Carbon County Court following a nearly five-hour preliminary hearing in front of Lehigh County District Judge Joan Snyder.During that hearing, Noonan said Homanko told fellow Nesquehoning officer Timothy Wuttke immediately following the crash that he was afraid he was going to get arrested.Michael Sauers also testified.Homanko’s trial in the case is tentatively scheduled for September.