PARADISE, Pa. — A Lancaster County man will serve up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a deadly 2021 crash in Paradise Township, prosecutors said Thursday.
Jeremy Leonard, 37, of Paradise, pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, four DUI-related offenses, three counts of reckless endangerment, and three summary traffic offenses at a hearing before Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker on Wednesday, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.
Leonard admitted he was driving a blue Honda Civic that crashed on the first block of Corner Ketch Road at 8:16 p.m. on July 13, 2021.
There were three other people in the vehicle with Leonard at the time of the crash, prosecutors said. One of the occupants died of injuries sustained in the crash, while another was seriously injured after being ejected from the vehicle, according to prosecutors.
Arriving officers observed the vehicle had sustained damage to the rear passenger side, a nearby tree was damaged, and tire marks were seen leaving the road. Witnesses later told police the vehicle was moving aggressively before the crash, prosecutors said.
Reinaker issued a sentence of 1 ½ to 10 years in prison.
Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Blazier prosecuted the case. Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Richard Whitehouse filed charges.
