Police: Beer cans found scattered along roadway during fatal Lebanon County crash, driver charged

LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) -- Beer cans were found all across the road at the scene of a deadly Lebanon County crash two years ago, and a driver is now facing charges, according to court documents. The charges filed by Lebanon County Regional police show Armando Rodriguez-Vega, 54, of Lebanon, was charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI from the crash along Colebrook Road in North Cornwall Township on Oct. 9, 2023. Beota Rhoade, 79, of Palmyra, passed away from her injuries at the hospital, according to the charges. Rodriguez-Vega was also taken to the hospital for treatment. Coors Light beer cans were scattered all across the roadway, and a shredded box with several cans of beer was found in the trunk of Rodriguez-Vega's car, a 2021 Ford Mustang GT, after police arrived just after 2:30 p.m., according to the charges. Rodriguez-Vega's medical records showed police he had a BAC of .07%, police said in the charges. In Pennsylvania, the legal limit for a driver's BAC is .08%. Police said in the court docs that a "thorough" crash investigation revealed that Rodriguez-Vega was travelling North when he came across a curve and went into the opposite lane, hitting Rhoade's vehicle. Marks and fluid were found in the lane Rhoade was traveling in, meaning that her vehicle was hit, police said. It was noted in the charging documents that there was a sign warning motorists of the curve in the roadway that Rodriguez-Vega would have seen. In addition to homicide by vehicle while DUI, Rodriguez-Vega faces charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, DUI and other charges. He was placed in Lebanon County Prison Friday, unable to post his bail set at $100,000. He awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 3.