Charges filed in Antis crash
Peavler facing involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle
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Involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle and related charges have been filed against an Altoona woman involved in a fatal crash in September 2022, according to court documents.
Desiree R. Peavler, 51, was driving a black Hyundai Sonata sedan shortly before 8 p.m.
Sept. 18, 2022, when she attempted to turn left from the middle lane of East Pleasant Valley Boulevard onto Stadium Drive in Antis Township, according to state police. The sedan struck head-on a motorcycle driven by Christopher Cowfer, who was traveling in the southbound lane, police reported.
Cowfer, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene by Blair County Assistant Coroner Brian Reidy, court documents state.
Police said the Sonata's airbag was deployed in the crash.
During the investigation, state police interviewed Peavler, who said she remembered having her left turn signal on but does not remember making the left turn. She heard a loud bang and saw Cowfer on the road bleeding and got out of her vehicle to wave people down to call 911, she told police.
Police also interviewed two witnesses who saw the Sonata in the middle lane with the left turn signal on and the motorcycle traveling in the southbound lane. The witnesses went past the sedan, heard a large bang, looked behind them and saw that a crash had occurred.
They turned around to help at the scene, the report states.
Charges were filed against Peavler on Nov. 6, more than a year after the accident. The charges include involuntary manslaughter, felony homicide by vehicle and summary charges of reckless driving, careless driving --s unintentional death and vehicle turning left.
Online court documents show Peavler's case is inactive, awaiting a preliminary hearing.