A Lebanon dump truck driver was charged today with homicide by vehicle for allegedly causing an April traffic accident south of Adamstown in which a 73-year-old Bowmansville man was killed and passenger seriously injured.

Paul R. "Butch" Blessing, 73, was driving on Route 897 near the  intersection with Willow Street in Brecknock Township shortly before 9 a.m. on April 9, police said, when an oncoming dump truck crashed head-on into his minivan.

The truck driver, 31-year-old Shane Michael Reichard, of Lebanon, was charged with homicide by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving and two traffic violations. Trooper Jeffrey Menet filed the charges.

State police said Reichard was driving south on Route 897 when he failed to negotiate a curve in the road. The dump truck crossed over the center line, troopers said, and into the northbound lane, where it collided head-on with Blessing's minivan.

Blessing was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

His passenger, Mildred "Mickey" Witwer, 70, of Bowmansville, was taken by ambulance to Reading Hospital with serious injuries including collapsed lungs and a broken leg.

Reichard sustained a minor cut on his head from hitting the windshield, police said. Troopers said he was not wearing a seatbelt, but Blessing was. It was not known if Witwer was wearing hers, police said.

The accident, which closed Route 897 for four hours, remains under investigation. State police from the Ephrata barracks summoned to the scene a state police accident reconstructionist, vehicle inspector, criminal investigators and forensic experts.

According to Blessing's obituary, he was a widower survived by a daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Witwer was described as Blessing's companion.

He was a lifetime member and past president of the Schoeneck Lions Club, a member of the Cocalico Senior Center, and a former member of the Lancaster County C. B. Club and Brunnerville Volunteer Fire Company. He was also described as an avid Phillies baseball fan.

He formerly worked as a butcher at Markley's Meats in Lexington and delivered newspapers for Lancaster Newspapers and The Shopping News.


Staff writer Janet Kelley can be reached at jkelley@LNPnews.com or 481-6026.