VENANGO CO., Pa.(EYT) — Franklin-based State Police continue to search for a Franklin man who is wanted for homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.
State police are requesting information from the public as to the whereabouts of 34-year-old Raymond Norman Herold, of Franklin.
Herold faces criminal charges in connection with a crash that killed a Franklin woman in June of 2016.
Anyone with information is asked to contact PSP Franklin at 814-676-6596.
Case Details:
According to a criminal complaint, a one-vehicle crash occurred when Raymond Norman Herold under-compensated while attempting to negotiate a turn, causing his vehicle to travel off Sugarcreek Drive. Once off the roadway, the vehicle struck a utility pole with the driver’s side door. The vehicle then flipped over and spun 180 degrees and struck a small tree before coming to rest on its roof facing the opposite way that it had struck the utility pole.
The complaint states that the vehicle owner, Christina Joan Hoover, of Franklin, was sitting in the front passenger seat and was partially ejected from the vehicle resulting in fatal injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Physical evidence observed at the scene included the following:
– The vehicle was on its roof;
– Herold was loaded into an ambulance for transport to a landing zone to be transported by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian;
– Hoover was still partially in the vehicle (partially ejected through the vehicle sunroof) and laying on the ground with the vehicle laying on her upper chest/neck;
– A utility pole was sheared off approximately three to four feet above the ground; and
– Numerous wires were down on the roadway and around the vehicle.
The following damages were observed:
– There was dirt packed into the wheels of the left side tires. The dirt can be attributed to the vehicle sliding sideways just prior to impact with the utility pole;
– At 828 Sugarcreek Drive, a path in the driveway gravel and then a yard off the south side of the roadway was attributed to the vehicle. This path started at approximately the apex of the curve and ends at the utility pole that was struck;
– There was heavy damage to the driver’s side door which can be attributed to the impact with the utility pole.
– The glass from both doors, the rear window, and the sunroof were broken out;
– Pieces of wood from the utility pole were embedded in the driver’s door;
– A small tree that was struck had a branch broke off of it; and
– White Nike shoes were wedged in the area of the gas and brake pedals.
Items of evidence were that were collected and submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police Laboratory in Erie for preparation of DNA analysis included:
– A pair of white Nike shoes size 9;
– A pair of black Nike sandals;
– The driver’s side curtain airbag;
– The driver’s side front airbag;
– The driver’s side front knee bolster;
– The driver’s side seat airbag;
– The passenger’s side front airbag; and
– The airbag control module.
The prepared items were then submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police Forensic DNA Division in Greensburg for DNA analysis. The lab report from the Forensic DNA Division indicates that Herold’s DNA was located on the driver’s side front airbag, driver’s side front knee bolster, driver’s side seat airbag, and the passenger’s side front airbag. The lab report further states that no interpretable results were obtained from the white Nike shoes and the driver’s side curtain airbag, according to the complaint.
Christina Hoover was pronounced dead at the scene on June 6, 2016, at 12:07 a.m. by Venango County Coroner Christina Rugh. An autopsy was performed on Hoover at the Erie County Coroner’s office on June 6, 2016. Eric Lee Vey, Forensic Pathologist, completed a report which attributed the death to blunt force trauma to the neck and trunk.
Attending Paramedic Interviewed
On June 8, 2016, at approximately 12:50 a.m., Trooper Bingman, of PSP Franklin, spoke to the attending paramedic who provided treatment to Herold after the crash.
The paramedic provided the following statement:
– Herold told her that he was not driving the vehicle and said the female Christine or Christina was the driver.
– Herold said he was not sure of her name as he had only known her for a week or two.
– He stated that he was not wearing a seat belt.
– Herold had lacerations to the left side of his face and that she transferred his care to STAT MedEvac 6 who flew him to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.