Nesquehoning has hired outside representation to help with its borough police department's internal investigation on part-time officer Steven Homanko's case.

On Wednesday, borough council voted to hire attorney James Scallion of Milnesville at $125 per hour to assist police with the investigation regarding Homanko's crash last May that killed one and severely injured another.Council President David Hawk said that Homanko, who has been on unpaid administrative leave since May 28, 2014, has not been terminated by the borough."The internal investigation is required before we can take any permanent action," he said. "That is why we are proceeding with hiring attorney Scallion."Hawk said the investigation could take eight weeks or more before it is finalized and presented to council for review.Homanko, 26, of Beaver Meadows, faces charges of aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangering another person, reckless driving, careless driving, driving a vehicle at an unsafe speed and failure to drive on the right side of the roadway after he struck a Toyota Yaris, driven by Michael Sauers, while allegedly attempting to stop a yellow Dodge Neon on May 12, 2014.The investigation of the crash revealed that Homanko was traveling at 113 mph along Route 209 between Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe when he lost control of his patrol car and struck the Sauerses' vehicle. Carola Sauers, a passenger in the Yaris, was killed in the crash.The homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault charges are both felonies of the third degree.A felony of the third degree is punishable by up to seven years in prison.Last month, Homanko's preliminary hearing was held before Senior District Judge Joan Snyder of Lehigh County at District Judge Casimir Kosciolek's Lansford office.All Carbon County district judges recused themselves from the case because Judge Joseph Homanko of Weatherly is the father of the defendant.He remains free on $100,000 unsecured bail while awaiting an Aug. 4 arraignment date. He is represented by defense attorney Paul Levy.State police and the state attorney general's office conducted a joint investigation.