Steven Homanko, a part-time Nesquehoning patrolman, was charged on May 6 with felony vehicular homicide and other charges following a nearly yearlong investigation into a May 12, 2014, fatal crash. Homanko's 2009 Crown Victoria spun on Route 209 between Jim Thorpe and Nesquehoning, with the rear-end of the cruiser crashing into a Toyota Yaris driven by Michael Sauers, 64, and his wife Carola Sauers, 69, both of Lehighton.

Carola Sauers was pronounced dead. Michael Sauers spent two months recovering at St. Luke's University Hospital in Bethlehem.Homanko, 26, said he was chasing a Dodge Neon that had committed a traffic violation.Michael Sauers and Homanko came face-to-face for the first time since the crash at the June 30 preliminary hearing."I'm just very relieved the justice process is beginning," Sauers said. "I want to find out the truth."All charges were bound over to Carbon court following nearly five hours of preliminary hearing testimony in front of Lehigh County District Judge Joan Snyder.Homanko remains free on $100,000 unsecured bail while awaiting a pretrial conference on Feb. 25. Bucks County Senior Judge John Rufe will hear the case.