Mar 22, 2017 2 min read

A Monongahela man was charged Wednesday with homicide by vehicle in connection with a 2016 accident in which his vehicle struck three motorcycles that were part of a bike run, killing a passenger on one of them.

Arthur Ginglardi, 74, is charged in the death of Darla Cook, 51, of Washington, in the June 12 crash on Route 136 in Nottingham Township.

Other charges filed with District Judge James Ellis include aggravated assault by vehicle, simple assault, failing to drive on roadways laned for traffic, careless driving, reckless driving and speeding. According to police, an investigation showed Ginglardi’s vehicle was traveling at between 58 and 65 mph in a 45-mph zone.

Four people on motorcycles, part of a group participating in a Sunday morning run, sustained injuries, as did Ginglardi.

According to the criminal complaint, one of the riders told police Ginglardi’s car “was halfway into their lane and appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed” prior to striking three motorcycles.

At the scene, Ginglardi told police the bikes had struck his car, and although he took Vicodin, he had not done so for two or three days. After being placed in an ambulance, he revised that to five or six days, police said.

Police interviewed him again July 1, at which point he claimed “a rabbit ran out in front of him from his left side and would have crossed in front of the motorcycles. Ginglardi related that he swerved left to miss the rabbit, and all of a sudden a motorcycle came into his lane and struck his car,” and two others did the same when he came to a stop, according to the complaint.

He also said he was traveling at between 30 and 35 mph.

A member of the entourage at the time of the accident said about 20 motorcycles were traveling east toward Ligonier on a run as members of Washington Pa. Hog Chapter 1928, for which Cook served as secretary.