SMETHPORT — The prosecution and defense are working to deal with loose ends so a trial for Daniel W. Oaks II, accused in a 2018 fatal crash, can be scheduled.
Oaks, 32, of Bradford, appeared for a hearing on pretrial motions Friday in McKean County Court before President Judge John Pavlock.
Charges against Oaks stem from a Sept. 8, 2018, crash, when a car driven by Oaks left the roadway near 610 Main St., Duke Center, striking multiple vehicles and a porch. The car’s passenger, Alyssa Hawk, was killed in the crash, and several people suffered serious injuries: Oaks and bystanders Cody and Sam Pearce and Justin McDivitt.
Prosecutors allege that it was the speed of Oaks’s car that caused the damage and injuries.
After Pavlock met with District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer and defense attorney Anthony Clarke in chambers, the group returned to the courtroom. There, Pavlock said he agreed to continue the motions hearing for 30 days, and he provided an update on the case to alleged victims and family members who were in attendance.
Pavlock explained the continuance will give the defense time to provide a supplemental report.
“The supplemental report may solve some of the pending issues,” Pavlock said.
No new hearing date was set, but the judge said it should happen in about 30 days.
The goal at the hearing will be to have trial dates scheduled that day.
Shaffer anticipates the trial will last seven days, and Clarke agreed the trial will take at least that long.
Pavlock said another pending issue is the submission of two things at trial: statements by a man named Tom Perry and information about Oaks’ history. The judge ordered both sides to submit written briefs within 20 days.
“The case does need to move forward,” Pavlock said. “Everyone’s in agreement with that.”
Oaks is charged with homicide by vehicle and three counts of aggravated assault by vehicle, third-degree felonies; involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor; five counts of recklessly endangering another person, second-degree misdemeanors; and nine traffic summaries.
Oaks remains free, having posted 5% of $100,000 bail.
