Traffic Tickets Issued in March Crash that Killed Pa. Paramedic

July 12--Summary traffic citations have been filed against the driver of a tri-axle truck that struck and killed West End Ambulance Service paramedic Janice Keen Livingston March 2 on Route 271.

John W. Bitner, 55, of Mount Pleasant was mailed a summons Friday on four summary counts, online court documents show.

State police with Indiana County's weights unit cited Bitner with reckless driving that led to an unintentional death, failing to drive at a safe speed, exceeding the maximum gross weight of a vehicle and an equipment violation.

Bitner was driving for JJ Sosko Trucking Inc. of Mount Pleasant.

Calls to District Attorney Kelly Callihan were not returned Saturday. A state police dispatcher said he had no additional information, noting the weights unit was not working over the weekend.

Johnstown police Officer Erin Kabler, who has been acting as a spokesperson for Livingston's family said the family has been informed of the citations.

"At this point, they want to let the judicial process play itself out before saying anything further," Kabler said.

Livingston died responding to an emergency call for a series of accidents.

Police identified those involved as Richard W. Daniels, 56, of Derry, who was driving a white FedEx truck that slid in front of a stopped school bus; Joe Tavalsky, 50, of Johnstown, driver of a black pickup; Karen Barzeski, 61, of Johnstown, who was driving a tan-colored car that crashed into a telephone pole, shearing it in half; and a 16-year-old boy from Johnstown, driver of a blue Jeep.

Barzeski was transported from the scene by ambulance.

Randy Griffith is a multimedia reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 532-5057. Follow him on Twitter @PhotoGriffer57.

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