STROUDSBURG – A jury in Monroe County Court delivered five hours then decided that Thomas Senavitis did not cause the accident that killed State Senator James Rhoades. 

Senavitis, 46, was acquitted of the most serious charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide while driving under the influence and aggravated vehicular assault while DUI.    He was found guilty of just DUI and reckless endangerment.

Police say Senavitis’ blood alcohol was four times the legal limit, following the accident. 

At the center of the case was whether the vehicle Senavitis was driving crossed the center line of Route 209, hitting Rhoades’ vehicle head-on, or whether Rhoades had in fact crossed the center line, perhaps to avoid a parked vehicle.  Both the prosecution and defense presented their own expert accident reconstruction witnesses. 

The accident happened in October 2008, as Rhoades was campaigning for reelection in western Monroe County.  Rohades died the following day.  His wife sustained serious injuries, but recovered.