First Posted: 5/19/2008

LEHMAN TWP. – A tractor-trailer driver was communicating with a dispatcher when he crashed into several vehicles that claimed the life of a North Carolina man and injured five others on state Route 118 in November, Police Chief Howard Kocher said Monday.

Kocher said the driver, Jonathan Basil Havel Sr., 57, of Wilkes-Barre, was using a small laptop computer e-mailing a dispatcher when he collided with three vehicles at the intersection with Fedor Road on Nov. 7.

Havel was charged with five summary counts of careless driving. He faces fines up to $1,568 if he pleads guilty to the summary counts.

"There wasn’t gross negligence. His speed wasn’t in excess of the posted speed limit," Kocher said. "Basically, the investigation determined he was a distracted driver. He was e-mailing back and forth, answering dispatching questions."

For the complete story, read The Times Leader on Tuesday.