A Maryland man was sentenced to serve 3 to 6 years in a state correctional institution for a fatal crash in 2020.

Jeremy White, 39, of Temple Hills, was sentenced to the state term on a charge of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of a controlled substance. He previously pleaded guilty to the charge. Under state law, for the charge of homicide by vehicle while DUI, the minimum sentence is three years in a state prison.

Terry Angel Gonzalez, 30, of Lansford, was killed in the crash on July 13, 2020. He was driving his motorcycle to drop off his daughter’s bathing suit when his bike was struck by White’s SUV.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper Peter Krajnak of the Lehighton barracks:

At 2:07 p.m., Krajnak was dispatched to a two-car vehicle crash that occurred in the area of 205 Stock St. in Nesquehoning. Officers were already on scene.

White, the driver of a blue Hyundai Tucson, was not injured and was inside the Hauto Fire Department nearby. Krajnak and trooper Mark Bower talked to White, who said that his Maryland driver’s license had expired on March 30.

White said he was traveling west on Stock Street when his vehicle crossed over the double yellow line into the path of a motorcycle driven by Gonzalez, who was traveling eastbound. White’s vehicle hit the motorcycle. Gonzalez was thrown from the bike and he was pronounced dead on scene by a member of the Carbon County Coroner’s Office.

Bower asked White if he consumed any alcoholic beverages or used any drugs prior to driving and White said that he drank alcohol and had smoked marijuana the night before.

White’s vehicle had an odor of marijuana and a burned marijuana roach was near the driver’s seat. Bower asked White to submit to a blood test, but White refused.

Charges of homicide by vehicle; driving without a license; disregard traffic lane; careless driving; and reckless driving were dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office. The homicide by vehicle while DUI is the most serious charge that White faced.

At the prior plea hearing his attorney, Michael E. Moyer, said a blood test revealed his client had marijuana in his system.

Gonzalez left behind a fiancee and two young children.

White expressed remorse for what occurred. He told the court he was “deeply sorry for what happened.” He added, “Nothing I can say will bring him back.”

Many of Gonzalez’s family members were in the courtroom for the proceeding but none wanted to speak.

Moyer asked Serfass to impose the minimum term, which was part of the plea bargain.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Lynn Rapa agreed, noting that White pleaded to the top charge filed against him.

Serfass said it was a tragic situation for both the victim’s family and that of the defendant. He said a life was loss because of someone getting into a vehicle and driving while impaired. He said the Gonzalez family must live with the tragedy the rest of their lives.

He said for White he will be spending an extended amount of time away from his family.

White also pleaded to DUI and was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and one year license suspension. The jail term runs concurrent with the homicide charge.

White was also ordered to supply a DNA sample and zero tolerance imposed for alcohol or drug use.