HOUTZDALE ? Gregory A. Millinder Jr., 32, of Madera is facing homicide by vehicle charges for striking a car, which killed a woman passenger, while allegedly under the influence of several drugs in early July.
Millinder is charged by Trooper Dennis Peters of the Clearfield-based state police with homicide by vehicle while DUI, F2; aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, F2; homicide by vehicle, F3; DUI/controlled substance, three counts, M; involuntary manslaughter, M1; endangering the welfare of children, M1; recklessly endangering another person, M2; and four summaries.
Millinder was arraigned Friday before Magisterial District Judge James Hawkins with bail being set at $100,000 monetary, which he?s posted. His preliminary hearing was set for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 22 during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 6:13 p.m. July 2, a Jeep Wrangler operated by Millinder was traveling southbound on Route 53 in Woodward Township. At the same time, a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air were traveling northbound.
Millinder?s Jeep reportedly crossed over the center line, entered the northbound lane and impacted the Corvette. Upon impact, the Corvette continued north for a short distance before coming to a controlled final rest. Millinder?s Jeep reportedly continued south in the northbound lane and collided head-on with the Bel Air.
When Peters made contact with Millinder, he allegedly observed signs of impairment. He subsequently requested assistance from a Pennsylvania State Police Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).
Peters was notified by an on-scene paramedic at 6:48 p.m. that Mary T. Caprio, 70, of Lock Haven had been pronounced dead. Caprio was a passenger in the Bel Air. Gary K. Stover, 71, of Loganton was the operator of the Bel Air, and he was flown from the scene in critical condition.
Both occupants of the Corvette – Daniel L., 68, and Susan F. Gillette, 67, of Moshannon – sustained minor injuries. Millinder had his 8-year-old daughter in the backseat of his Jeep. She appeared to be uninjured.
Peters talked to Millinder again and asked if he had consumed any alcohol. He said he had not. Peters asked if he had taken any medication or drugs, and again he said he had not.
Peters asked Millinder if he would submit to a personal breathalyzer test, which he did. The PBT showed negative results for the presence of alcohol.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, Peters asked Millinder if he would submit to a blood test. After a long pause, he said he would but asked if he could be honest first. He claimed he had taken two Klonopin pills two days prior to help him relax but denied he had taken anything earlier that day.
Millinder was transported to the Clearfield barracks for a DRE evaluation. Upon its completion, the PSP expert believed Millinder was under the influence of controlled substances and incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle.
Millinder was placed under arrest for DUI and taken to the Clearfield Penn Highlands Hospital for a blood test. On July 17, Peters received the test results, which showed Millinder?s blood contained amphetamine, methamphetamine, clonazepam and amino clonazepam.
On Oct. 25, Peters received the pathology results for Caprio from the Clearfield County Coroner?s Office. The report indicated that her cause of death was blunt force trauma to the chest due to a motor vehicle crash.
