Published March 25. 2015 03:21PM
A Monroe County man involved in a two-vehicle crash in which a person died pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Tuesday to driving under the influence.
Steven P. McKenzie, 32, of Scotrun, entered his plea before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.McKenzie was involved in a crash on Aug. 18, 2013, along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township, in which a motorcycle ran into his vehicle and a passenger on the cycle was killed. State police at Lehighton said the crash occurred at 10:33 p.m. near the Jim Thorpe borough line.Killed in the crash was Debra L. VanPattern, of 8 Cedar Ave., Jim Thorpe. She was pronounced dead at the scene.She was a passenger on a 1986 Kawasaki Eliminator bike driven by Paul G. Herman, 54, of the same address. McKenzie was driving a 2009 Nissan Altima at the time.The police report stated McKenzie was northbound while the bike was southbound. Troopers said the bike was weaving back and forth and crossed the roadway and went onto the berm. It then re-entered the road and struck the side of McKenzie's car.Herman was also charged with DUI and summary offenses. He pleaded guilty in February to DUI and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13.Neither driver was charged with offenses concerning the death of VanPattern.In a plea bargain four summary motor vehicle code violations were dropped.Nanovic deferred sentencing to a later date.