BY LUKE RANKER
Times-Shamrock Writer

State police arrested a 24-year-old Laceyville man Thursday for an August all-terrain vehicle crash that killed a Meshoppen man.

On Aug. 29, Cody Mosher, 113 Franklin St., was driving a Polaris Ranger on Place Road in Auburn Twp., Susquehanna County, when he lost control and rolled the vehicle.

The crash killed Jeremy Mowry, 38, and severed Mosher’s ear and right pinky.

Alexander Mowry told police he arrived at Jeremy Mowry’s home around 7:30 p.m. with his 12-year-old son and a bottle of blackberry brandy. Mosher was already there and drinking beer. He may have consumed four to six more while the group hit golf balls, police said.

The four decided to spotlight deer and crammed into the Polaris Ranger with Mosher driving, the boy in the passenger seat, and Jeremy and Alexander Mowry in the utility bed. On Place Road, the ATV reached about 20 miles per hour, police said.

Jeremy Mowry began banging on the plastic divider between the cab and the bed, yelling for Mosher to slow down.

When Mosher hit the brakes, the vehicle began to fishtail before going into a ditch and rolling over. Alexander Mowry told police the next thing he remembered, he was lying on the road. His son was in the passenger seat, Mosher was lying in a ditch next to the ranger, and Jeremy Mowry was on the road, not breathing.

Jeremy Mowry was pronounced dead at Tyler Memorial Hospital later that night. Mosher was taken to Geisinger Medical Center for head and hand surgery.

On the scene, police found several beer cans and the bottle of brandy. During an investigation, ambulance crew members who responded to the accident told police they could smell alcohol on Mosher. A test revealed his blood alcohol level was .14 percent.

Mosher was charged with vehicular homicide, involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence and related counts. He remains free on $25,000 unsecured bail.