A 20-year-old Morgantown man who recently graduated high school as an "A student" was spared prison Wednesday despite causing a 2007 crash that killed a Blue Ball woman.

Joshua Lee Martin pleaded guilty in September to speeding past a stop sign and colliding with Susan Hoover's Toyota at the intersection of Hammertown and Valley View roads in Caernarvon Township.

Hoover, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene of the Oct. 12, 2007, crash. Investigators said Martin's vehicle was traveling at more than 60 mph.

Hoover's brother spoke at Martin's sentencing, expressing the family's forgiveness and asking county Judge David Ashworth for leniency for Martin.

Ashworth then ordered Martin to serve 9 months house arrest, followed by 15 months of intensive supervision and 5 years' probation.

Ashworth also ordered Martin to perform 500 hours of community service.

Ashworth said he spared Martin from prison because he had lived a "productive life" prior to the crash.

Martin graduated from Twin Valley High School in June with a 3.896 GPA, according to testimony.

"He was an A student," defense attorney Robert Beyer said, "with the exception of Advanced Placement calculus."

Several of Martin's peers submitted letters to Ashworth commending the young man for his work ethic and excellence in school.

Nelson Hoover, Susan Hoover's brother, voiced an opinion on his family's behalf.

"I just want Josh to know we have fully forgiven him," he said, looking steadily at Martin. "We can't always understand God's ways. We do miss our sister, but we would recommend being lenient."

Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson acknowledged the Hoovers' wishes but told Ashworth "we do have an interest in protecting drivers in Lancaster County."

Martin told police after the crash that he had not missed the stop sign, but ran it intentionally, Wilson told the judge. Martin told officers he had run the stop sign as many as 20 times before, Wilson said.

Ashworth agreed with Wilson that those facts were "particularly disturbing."

"This was your choice to run the stop sign. It's not like you didn't see it. You knew it was there," Ashworth told Martin. "By your deliberate actions, you caused the worst of tragedies — you killed someone. You should have known better."

Martin's voice quivered as he addressed the court.

"I'd like to apologize again to the Hoover family. I'm sorry that I caused you so much pain for losing a loved one," he said. "I want to make my wrongs right."

Prosecutors described "intensive supervision" as similar to probation, only Martin must report more often to a probation officer.

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com