Pedestrian Killed in Lehigh Drive Crash, Police Say

This story was posted at 9:40 a.m., and updated at 6:56 p.m.

A Wilson man cited earler this year for DUI is facing a homicide charge after allegedly hitting a pedestrian with his SUV early Sunday morning on Lehigh Drive.

Easton police say Francis Thomas Roscioli, 22, struck and killed Abraham Rivera, of 169 Spring St., as Rivera was walking along the southern edge of the road just after 2 a.m. near the 1000 block of Lehigh Drive.

According to police, Roscioli, of the 2400 block of Hay Terrace, was heading west on the road 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 an unrelated probation violation. Charges are pending the results of a toxicology test, police said.

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.

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.