Driver In Deadly Crash May Have Been Drinking, Police Say

A Wilson man facing charges following a crash Sunday that killed a West Easton pedestrian may have been drinking before the accident, Easton police said Monday.

Francis Roscioli, 22, could be charged with homicide by vehicle in connection with the accident that killed Abraham Rivera on Lehigh Drive Sunday.

Police must first get the the results of a toxicology test on Roscioli before they can know how to charge him, said Lt. John Remaley.

"Of course, given the nature of the case, we'd hope they could be fast-tracked," Remaley said.

According to police, Roscioli, of the 2400 block of Hay Terrace, was heading west on the 1000 block of Lehigh Drive in his Jeep Cherokee when he tried to pass a slower-moving driver.

In order to pass the other vehicle, Roscioli needed to move into the eastbound lane, where he hit Rivera, police said. 

Police say Roscioli continued west, lost control of his Jeep, and hit an embankment on the north side of the road and flipped over.

Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene. Roscioli was taken to Easton Hospital with minor injuries and then jailed on the parole violation.

Court records show Roscioli pleaded guilty last year to a 2011 aggravated assault and was cited for DUI and careless driving in Easton on July 1. 

According to the Morning Call, Northampton County Court Administrator Jill Cicero concluded that Roscioli had violated his parole due to the DUI case, but allowed him to stay free because he had passed his most recent urine test and had begun to seek drug and alcohol treatment.

If he is charged with homicide, it will be the second homicide case in Easton this year. In February, Damien Robinson was shot and killed at Eddie G's in the city's downtown. 

A small roadside memorial had been set up for Rivera Monday evening, with some flowers and white candles.