HONESDALE, PA — After a three-day trial, a jury convicted James Gerrity, 62, for causing a fatal crash in Texas Township, announced Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell on March 16.

The trial was held March 13 to 15.

At approximately 7 a.m. on July 26, 2021, Gerrity, of Dunmore PA, caused a motor vehicle crash on State Route 6 in Texas Township when he crossed into the lane of travel of a vehicle driven by Mary Radell of Honesdale in which her husband, Lou Radell, was a passenger.

Gerrity told state troopers that he may have passed out because he is diabetic. Mary Radell suffered serious injuries to her ankle, knee, and internal injuries. Lou Radell died about three and a half hours later, during surgery at Geisinger CMC for injuries sustained in the crash. He was 83 years old.

In October 2021, the commonwealth charged Gerrity with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, and other traffic violations.

Factors in conviction

Gerrity, a diabetic, raised a defense that he was not reckless because he may have had a hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) event. An endocrinologist, Dr. Philip Levin, retained by the defense claimed Gerrity had hypoglycemic unawareness, a condition in which diabetics have little or no ability to perceive the onset of severe hypoglycemia.

Howell said another endocrinologist, Dr. Neha Gavin, retained by the commonwealth disputed this claim for the following reasons:

• Gerrity’s blood glucose readings were within normal ranges one hour before the crash and within 40 minutes after the crash.
• Gerrity said he ate cookies before while driving the crash to attempt to self-treat his alleged low blood sugar.
• Eyewitness accounts said Gerrity was awake, aware, conscious, alert, and responsive at the scene—exiting the vehicle, directing a witness that the vehicle’s paperwork was in the glove compartment, smoking cigarettes, using his cell phone, speaking clearly and coherently with state troopers and emergency medical technicians immediately after the crash.
• Gerrity refused treatment by EMT and refused to go the hospital for further evaluation after the crash.
• Gerrity said he did not believe he had a spell from diabetes and that he did not think he needed medical treatment
• Gerrity did not seek an evaluation or further treatment in days and months following the crash.

“This fatal crash could have been avoided if Mr. Gerrity did not make the reckless choice to unsuccessfully try to treat his low blood sugar while driving,” said Howell. “If he had pulled over and ate his cookies while stopped, then Mary Radell would not have been seriously injured and Lou Radell would not have been killed. We all have an obligation to keep our roads as safe as possible by staying alert to our surroundings, our vehicles, and ourselves.”