DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A pickup truck driver tried to pass another vehicle by speeding up on a rainy day but instead, he crashed, causing his passenger to receive fatal injuries, and now he is facing charges, court documents show.

James Soto, 55, of Harrisburg, was charged with homicide by vehicle in the fatal April 3 crash on I-81 in East Hanover Township that killed passenger Sharon Bentler, according to the criminal complaint filed by State Police at Harrisburg.

Bentler and Soto were taken to Hershey Medical Center, where Bentler died days later from the injuries she got in the crash, Troopers said. The Dauphin County Coroner’s Office ruled her death from multiple traumatic injuries and the manner was ruled accidental.

When State Police arrived at the crash scene, which was just after 3 p.m., they saw a 2004 green Chevrolet Silverado in the grass off the road, debris everywhere and a tree split in half. Soto was on the ground on the passenger side, while Bentler was on the driver’s side.

Soto allegedly told Troopers he lost control of the truck and went off the road, and that seat belts were being used, however, Troopers later learned from their crash investigation they were not wearing them, the complaint states.

The roadway was wet during the time of the crash because it was raining out, the complaint notes.

Troopers learned from a witness that Soto, who was driving the truck in the left lane, accelerated to pass a vehicle and that is when the truck fishtailed, then spun sideways before rolling, the complaint shows. The witness stated they were going between 65-70 mph, and that Soto was next to them, when he tried to speed up.

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Soto also did not have a valid driver’s license at the time of the crash, State Police noted in the complaint.

Other than homicide by vehicle, Soto also faces a felony charge of accidents involving death or injury while not licensed and he also faces numerous summary charges for traffic violations.

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