Trial in death of Sen. Rhoades set for next week
Published: March 4, 2010
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Thomas Senavitis
A Kunkletown man is headed to trial next week for allegedly driving drunk in an accident that killed state Sen. James J. Rhoades in 2008.
On Oct. 17, 2008, police said, Thomas P. Senavitis, 46, of 7735 Pohopoco Drive, was driving a green 1994 Silverado Chevrolet south on Route 209 near Brodheadsville when he pulled into the northbound lane, causing a collision that was nearly head-on with Rhoades, who was driving a black 2006 Cadillac.
Rhoades, a Republican state senator from Mahanoy City who first took office in 1980, died of his injuries the following morning. Rhoades’ passenger, his wife, Mary Edith, suffered severe injuries and had to be hospitalized.
The trial begins at 9 a.m. March 10 in Courtroom No. 1 of the Monroe County Courthouse, North Seventh and Monroe streets, Stroudsburg.
Senavitis faces one count of homicide by vehicle/DUI, two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle/driving under the influence, one count each of homicide by vehicle, DUI/unsafe driving, DUI/BAC 0.16 percent and greater, driving on the right side of the road, driving within lane, careless driving, reckless driving and four counts of recklessly endangering another person.
Monroe County Chief Public Defender Wieslaw T. Niemoczynski will represent Senavitis, Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Colleen Mancuso will prosecute the case, and Monroe County President Judge Ronald Vican will preside over the trial, according to the court administrator’s office.
Mancuso did not return a call Monday morning regarding the list of possible witnesses and the anticipated length of the trial.
According to police, Rhoades was driving behind Yamila P. Yafar, 23, of East Stroudsburg, who was driving a green 1996 Ford Windstar.
Police said Yafar pulled to the side of the road, after which Senavitis came into Rhoades’ lane and caused a nearly head-on collision.
According to police, a blood-alcohol test on Senavitis showed a blood-alcohol content of 0.355 percent, more than four times the legal limit.
At his preliminary hearing in February 2009, Senavitis said it was Rhoades who left his lane. Senavitis said he only had one beer the day of the crash, and his family has claimed surgical anesthetics given to Senavitis after the accident may have caused the 0.355 BAC reading.
Rhoades represented the 29th Senatorial District, which includes all of Schuylkill County and parts of Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, Carbon and Monroe counties. David Argall, then a state representative, won the seat in a March 2009 special election after Rhoades was posthumously re-elected.
