New York man pleads to involuntary manslaughter count

A New York man pleaded guilty on Friday in Carbon County court to a charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a fatal crash on Interstate 80 last year.

Jose M. Padilla, 35, of Brooklyn, entered his plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Padilla was charged following a rollover crash in the eastbound lanes of I-80 in Kidder Township on June 18, 2017. State police at Fern Ridge responded to the scene of the crash and found that a rear seat passenger had been ejected from the vehicle. The passenger, Ralph Remig, 40, also of Brooklyn, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A state police accident reconstruction team was called to the scene and determined that Padilla was traveling 81-82 mph in the 65 mph zone. His vehicle went onto the berm and into the center median, rolling over several times.

Padilla, who was not properly licensed at the time, was originally charged with 14 criminal counts, including homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle, both felonies. The manslaughter count is a misdemeanor.

Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation record. He will also apply for placement in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program — house arrest.