Monroe County man arrested for homicide by vehicle in motorcyclist's death

A Monroe County man has been arrested in connection to a fatal hit-and-run in Coolbaugh Township.

According to Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department, 52-year-old Steven Rannie, of Tobyhanna, fatally struck 26-year-old motorcyclist Anthony Rodriguez, of Mount Pocono, on Route 611 at Cayuga Drive late Friday, Aug. 16.

According to police, the crash happened when Rannie, traveling southbound, struck the northbound Rodriguez while attempting to make a left turn. Rannie's vehicle, believed to be a Toyota Camry, sustained front-end damage and was leaking coolant. Police also found multiple bags of discarded marijuana along the road. The car was tracked through Pocono Farms before it went on Route 196 by Green Road.

After confirming the vehicle was a Camry, and getting a partial plate match, police went to Rannie’s residence in Tobyhanna, where detectives saw a Camry with front-end damage in the garage. Police said Rannie told them the damage was due to a deer collision.

After obtaining a search warrant, police said they identified green paint transfer consistent with Rodriguez’s motorcycle, matched broken vehicle pieces from the scene with Rannie’s Camry and found "suspected biological material" underneath the Camry. Police also said they found bags of marijuana, consistent with the ones left at the scene, in the home home.

Rannie was charged with four felonies, including homicide by vehicle, and three misdemeanors.

His next court date is a preliminary hearing on Sept. 3. Rannie's bail was set at $500,000.

Max Augugliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him at MAugugliaro@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Monroe County man arrested for homicide by vehicle in motorcyclist's death