Driver in fatal crash charged with homicide

Danville, Pa. — An Uber driver who crashed and killed his passenger on New Year's Day was high, police say.

Anthony J. Machi, 45, was taking Yainyles Gomez-Gomez from Williamsport to Wilkes-Barre when he lost control of his Toyota Highlander while driving on Interstate 80 in Liberty Township around 3:30 a.m.

When police arrived on scene, they found Machi standing by the guardrail near the median, where the SUV had come to a stop. His passenger, Gomez-Gomez, was not breathing and didn't have a pulse, according to Trooper Timothy Hummel of state police at Milton.

Machi reportedly told police a small deer or a fox ran across the roadway, which caused the accident, but also admitted he smoked marijuana daily. Machi was taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville for evaluation and while there, he allegedly told another trooper he occasionally uses cocaine and smokes marijuana every day.

Blood tests showed Machi was high at the time of the crash, arrest papers say.

Machi, Hughesville, was charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, two counts of DUI, and careless and reckless driving.

Docket sheet