A “writ of summons” has been filed in Carbon County court by the husband of a woman killed in a crash involving a Nesquehoning police officer.

Michael Sauers, individually and as administrator of the estate of his wife, Carola R. Sauers, filed notice of a suit naming the borough and Steven Homanko, of Beaver Meadows, as the defendants.The notice was filed this week in the prothonotary’s office by attorney Michael B. Kaspszyk, of Pocono Summit, on behalf of Sauers, who lives in Lehighton. The matter was filed just a few days short of the two-year anniversary of the fatal crash, which occurred on May 12, 2014.Homanko, then a part-time Nesquehoning police officer, was operating a 2009 Crown Victoria police cruiser on Route 209 heading toward Jim Thorpe, when he crashed into a Toyota Yaris driven by Michael Sauers, with his wife, Carola R. Sauers, a front-seat passenger.Carola Sauers, 69, died from injuries sustained in the crash. Michael Sauers, now 66, was seriously injured and spent two months in a hospital recovering from his injuries.As a result of the crash and an investigation by the state police at the Lehighton barracks, Homanko was charged with felony counts of vehicular homicide, involuntary manslaughter, and aggravated assault by vehicle.The writ of summons only notifies the defendants of the pending civil lawsuit. It does not contain any details of the suit. That part of the suit will be filed at a later date.The criminal case is pending in the county court.The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office as the district attorney’s office recused itself from the case because it regularly prosecutes cases filed by Nesquehoning police.The county’s three judges also recused themselves from the case because they handle all criminal matters involving area police. Senior Judge John Rufe, of Bucks County, has been assigned the case.Anthony Forray of the AG’s office is the prosecutor and defense counsel is attorney Paul Levy of Jim Thorpe.The case is tentatively set for trial during the September term of criminal court.A status conference with Rufe and the two attorneys is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on May 23.Homanko is free on bail.His employment with the borough of Nesquehoning has since been terminated.