Driver in fatal crash to pay fines
Hu renders guilty plea to summary offenses in accident that killed PennDOT worker
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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The driver who lost control of his vehicle on I-99 during a February 2019 snowstorm, striking and killing a PennDOT employee, has rendered guilty pleas to three summary traffic offenses in exchange for a sentence of court costs, fines and restitution.
Guanglong Hu, a Penn State graduate student at the time of the crash, has been ordered to pay $550 in fines and as much as $12,000 to the estate of Robert E. Gensimore for funeral and memorial expenses.
Gensimore, 45, Spruce Creek, a PennDOT foreman, was setting out flares along I-99 in Logan Township to warn oncoming motorists of an accident when he was struck and killed by Hu's out-of-control vehicle about 3:41 p.m. Feb. 17, 2019.
Because Hu's more serious charges -- homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person -- were dismissed last year through legal challenges, the negotiated plea presented Friday in Blair County Court was about as good as it could be, former District Attorney Richard Consiglio said.
"There are no winners here today," Gensimore's wife, Melissa, said after the sentence was imposed. "Nothing is going to bring Bobby back."
While speaking to Hu, who participated in the court hearing via video, Melissa Gensimore recommended Hu follow her husband's example of putting others first within his family and his community.
"I hope you continue your schooling and your research ... and hopefully discover something that will change the world for the better ... and that you love and protect your family like Bobby did," she said.
Gensimore was a 27-year member and first responder for the Warriors Mark-Franklin Fire Company.
"Bob was the heart, soul and spirit of our fire company," fire company member Richard Wright of Spruce Creek said during the hearing.
Melissa Gensimore suggested to Judge Wade Kagarise that Hu should lose his driver's license for a year and be required to enroll in driver's education classes with behind-the-wheel instruction.
"In my heart, I know you didn't set out to harm anybody that day," she told Hu. "But being reckless and by not respecting Mother Nature, you killed Bobby."
State police at Hollidaysburg, who charged Hu in August 2018, said he reported driving about 65 mph when he lost control of his vehicle. Police identified speed, snow and ice as factors contributing to the crash.
Kagarise, who imposed the negotiated sentence that Consiglio and defense attorney Karen Kuebler of Bellefonte presented, levied a $500 fine to the offense of careless driving resulting in death and $25 fines each to the offenses of disregarding traffic lanes and failure to drive at a safe speed.
The judge said he has no authority over driver's license suspensions.
Kuebler reported that PennDOT has a mandatory six months' suspension for careless driving resulting in death. Because Hu holds an out-of-state driver's license, it's expected that Hu's offense will be reported to the state that issued that license, which could follow through at Pennsylvania's request, Consiglio said.
Hu said little during his video court appearance, where he depended on a Mandarin Chinese interpreter to translate most of the legal proceedings. He responded with yes and no answers to questions about his plea that were presented to him in Mandarin Chinese. When Hu was asked if he had anything to say, he said no.
Kuebler's colleague, defense attorney Brian Manchester, later told the Mirror that their client has remorse.
"Mr. Hu is a stoic man," Manchester said. "But he has been broken up about this from the beginning."
Outside the courthouse, Melissa Gensimore acknowledged disappointment in not hearing Hu say he was sorry. She also said she didn't want her husband to be remembered for the sentence that was handed down to Hu.
"I want people to remember Bobby for all the good he did, and for always having a smile on his face," she said.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.