Woman Cited In Fatal Accident

By: Billy Engle

"HAGERSTOWN, Ind. -- The woman, whose van hit and killed a Richmond motorcyclist just east of Hagerstown on Saturday morning, has been cited for failure to stop at a red flashing light.

Hagerstown Police Chief Kent Hollenberg said Tuesday that the woman, Cherise Kovack, 49, of Brownstown, Pa., admitted running the red flashing light at the intersection of Indiana 1 and 38 Saturday morning and hitting a motorcycle driven by George McMillan, 69, of Richmond.

Wayne County Coroner Kevin Fouche pronounced McMillan dead at the scene. He died of massive head trauma.

Hollenberg issued the traffic citation Tuesday. He said after talking to the woman and talking to McMillan's family he wasn't considering any other charges.

"The woman was lost and looking for directional signage back to (Interstate) 70," Hollenberg said. "I've reviewed the case and talked to the witness and, at this point, am not considering anything additional."

Hollenbeck said he would still review a blood test done on Kovack at Reid Hospital on Saturday and would review her driving record from Pennsylvania.

The witness, Reg Fisher, was northbound on Indiana 1. He told police that the van did not stop for the flashing red light.

McMillan was westbound on Indiana 38 and had stopped at the stop sign at Indiana 1. Kovack was southbound on Indiana 1. She estimated that she was traveling between 30 and 35 mph when her van hit the motorcycle.

McMillan was the first of two traffic fatalities in Wayne County on Saturday. All told, three motorists died in the county in accidents within 28 hours between Friday and Saturday. Another motorist, who was hurt in a crash July 8, died July 12.

Patricia Cole of Richmond died Friday morning when her SUV ran over her at the intersection of South Fourth and M streets.

Michael E. Conway Jr. of Fountain City died when his vehicle hit a tree on Green Street in Fountain City.

Conway had an apparent seizure prior to the accident.

Donald E. Mull Jr. of Eaton, Ohio, died July 12 from injuries he suffered in a high-speed crash on Chester Boulevard in Richmond on July 8."