LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — A Lebanon County man is facing multiple charges, including homicide by vehicle, following a deadly Aug. 2023 crash.
According to the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department, on Aug. 22, 2023, at 2:25 p.m., officers responded to a crash on West 28th Division Highway in Penn Township, Lancaster County. At the scene, officers observed the three-vehicle crash.
As officers checked on the involved cars, the front passenger of a Kia was found dead. She was later identified as Bethany Welch.
The driver of the Kia was identified as Gavin Meical Kline, 20, from Palmyra. He was taken to a hospital alongside another driver for non-life-threatening injuries.
Throughout the investigation, it was determined by crash scene investigators that the Kia was traveling west when it passed a tractor-trailer in a posted no-passing zone. As a result, the Kia was involved in a head-on collision with another car in the eastbound lane.
Kline was tested for drugs and the results reportedly came back positive.
A reconstruction report identified that the actions of Kline resulted in the death of Welch. He is facing the following charges: homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, three counts of driving under the influence/controlled substance, careless driving, careless driving/death, careless driving/serious bodily injury, reckless driving, passing where prohibited, passing left/unsafe, restraint system and required financial responsibility.
Kline was arraigned and his bail has been set at $150,000.
