CLEARFIELD – On the day he was headed for trial, Matthew Charles Kennedy, 24, of Osceola Mills entered a guilty plea on three charges Wednesday morning.
He pleaded guilty to reckless driving, failure to stop and give information/render aid and failure to notify police of an accident/injury or death.
As a result, Kennedy faces a $210 fine and costs for reckless driving and a $35 fine and costs for both of the latter charges.
Clearfield County Judge Paul E. Cherry said the charge for an accident involving death or personal injury was withdrawn, as the court was unable to establish a case.
“We couldn’t prove it was your vehicle,” he said.
According to a previous GantDaily article from August 2006, Philipsburg resident Scott Hayes testified he noticed two cars traveling in-line toward him. Both were compact cars. He described the second as a dark-colored Chevrolet Cavalier.
“They were speeding, but I’m not sure how fast,” he said at the preliminary hearing.
Kennedy’s charges stem from an accident on the evening of June 30, 2004. Donna Raymond, of Philipsburg, was walking to Hi-Way Pizza along state Route 53. She was struck by a vehicle traveling toward her from her right.
In his testimony at the hearing, Hayes also testified that he noticed someone being dragged from the rear bumper of the vehicle.
Raymond’s left leg was amputated above the knee as a result of the accident. She also needed skin grafs for her right leg.
Judge Cherry told Kennedy he was a very lucky person.
“You’re lucky in more ways than one,” he said. “The accident could have resulted in a woman’s death.”
Click here to read complete coverage from Kennedy’s preliminary hearing.
