Driver in double fatal sentenced

WILKES-BARRE – Jonathan Banks held back tears Wednesday as he told a judge he will spend the rest of his life knowing he was the driver in a car crash that killed two people, including the woman he intended to marry.

And Michelle Knorr, mother of Banks’ girlfriend, Rachel, said her life is over and she can no longer look forward to grandchildren or planning her only child’s wedding.

“No one is a winner here,” said Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Mark Ciavarella during Banks’ sentencing Wednesday morning. “Everyone has suffered and will continue to suffer.”

Ciavarella sentenced Banks, 21, to nine to 18 months in prison, with the first six months to be spent at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, and the rest on house arrest. Banks was credited 35 days for time served.

Banks pleaded guilty to two counts of homicide by motor vehicle after a March 16, 2007, crash in Sugarloaf Township that killed his passenger, his girlfriend, Rachel Knorr, 20, of Berwick, and James Starner, 63, of Wapwallopen, the driver of another car.

Police said Banks was driving on state Route 93 in snowy weather in an area where two lanes merge, and ended up passing other cars in the turning lane after he was unable to merge. Banks lost control of the vehicle, hitting Starner’s vehicle head-on.

“Like the judge said, there is no winner in this case,” said Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Mike Vough. “It was not an intentional act, this was an accident. But we felt he was operating the vehicle negligently.”

Vough has previously said the charges were filed against Banks because Banks disobeyed traffic laws. Banks was ordered to pay more than $9,000 for funeral costs. He is eligible for work release.

Banks’ attorney, Michael Pisanchyn, said his client was more concerned with the fact that two lives were lost than with spending time in jail.

“We knew there would be jail time, and we were hoping for the best,” Pisanchyn said.

Relatives of Starner attended Wednesday’s sentencing, but Vough said the family was too distraught to speak.

Before the sentencing, members of Banks’ family, and relatives of the Knorrs, spoke to Ciavarella.

“He’s a hard-working guy, with strong leadership qualities,” said Banks’ cousin, Jeff Banks.

Banks told Ciavarella he was sorry for what happened, and that it’s time to take responsibility for his actions. “If I could take their place, I would,” he said.

Michelle Knorr, of Hazleton, said that since the accident, she has been unable to work, and takes medication for depression.

“My daughter was just getting her life started. Now, I have no future. No grandchildren. No wedding,” Knorr said.

Esther Parker, of Wilkes-Barre, great-grandmother of Rachel Knorr, said that Banks should serve numerous years in prison. “If my granddaughter wants to see her daughter, she has to go to her grave. That’s not right.”