Pike man convicted in homicide by vehicle case

MILFORD — Nathan Krape, 23, of Matamoras pled guilty to the crimes of Homicide by Vehicle while Driving Under the Influence and Driving Under the Influence on April 30, before the Pike County Court in Milford. Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin said the charges leading to the conviction were the result of a one-vehicle crash that caused the death of Danielle Carman, 21, formerly of Dingmans Ferry, who was the passenger in a Ford Focus that was driven by Krape. The deadly crash occurred in the Sunrise Lakes Development in Dingman Township on Sunrise Drive at approximately 1:30 a.m. on June 7, 2007. Krape crashed the vehicle into a tree after failing to negotiate a turn in the road. After the crash, the vehicle became engulfed in flames. Carman was removed from the vehicle before it was completely destroyed by the resulting fire, however she did not survive the severe injuries suffered in the crash itself. First Assistant District Attorney Bruce DeSarro, who prosecuted that case, said the charges against Krape came after an investigation performed by the Pennsylvania State Police. DeSarro stated the state police obtained a blood sample from Krape that uncovered a blood alcohol content of .08 percent which meets the standard for driving under the influence under state law. The blood sample also showed marijuana in Krape’s system. DeSarro stated that the driving under the influence charge was based upon both the alcohol and the marijuana in the defendant’s system. An accident reconstruction by state police showed Krape was driving the vehicle at approximately 65 miles per hour at the time of the crash, on a road which is posted with a speed limit of 25. DeSarro stated that Carman’s untimely death should serve our community as another painfully sad reminder of the horrors that can occur as a result of driving under the influence. Krape is currently free on bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2 in Pike County Court.