A tractor-trailer driver faces vehicular manslaughter charges would have caused a collision in March 2023 that killed three people along Route 33 — just north of the Northampton-Monroe county line — near Saylorsburg, Monroe County.

In addition to three counts of vehicular homicide, Mark Anthony Rideout Jr., 36, of Philadelphia is also charged with three counts of vehicular homicide while DUI; three counts of involuntary manslaughter; three counts of misdemeanor DUI; five counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment; and various summary traffic offences.

Rideout was arraigned Wednesday afternoon before U.S. District Judge Paul J. Gasper, who denied bail. He was then taken to the Monroe County Jail. Court records do not yet show any attorney information for Rideout.

Pennsylvania State Police said the crash occurred on March 1, 2023, when the Rideout crossed from southbound Route 33 into the northbound lanes — between Saylorsburg and Route 209 — in Hamilton Township, Monroe County. It then hit another tractor-trailer, a pickup truck and two passenger cars, state police said.

Investigators determined that Rideout, while traveling south, left the freeway and struck an embankment before returning to the southbound lanes of the Hamilton Township portion of the freeway, state police said. It then struck the center median guardrail and traveled across the northbound lanes of Route 33, striking four vehicles on the northbound side near mile marker 20.6 before coming to rest.

Two of the northbound vehicles were pinned under the truck, one was on the right shoulder of Route 33 north north of the crash site, and the last vehicle was in the right lane in front of the truck, state police said.

Bryan Franco, 25 years old Hellertown, and Samantha Crich, 40, of Wilkes-Barre, were both driving vehicles that ended up under the tractor-trailer, state police said. Franco was taken to Lehigh Valley-Pocono Hospital in East Stroudsburg, while Crich was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Township of Salisbury with injuries.

Both were later pronounced dead at the hospital, said Monroe County Coroner Tom Yanac Jr.. A 14-year-old front seat passenger in Crich’s car was pronounced dead at the scene, Yanac said. The teenager’s identity has not been released by authorities.

Franco died of head trauma, and the manner was ruled a homicide by Yanac. Crich died from multiple blunt force injuries from the crash, and her death was ruled accidental Lehigh County Coroner said Daniel Buglio. The teenager died from multiple trauma, and the manner was ruled a homicide by Yanac.

French he was remembered by family, coaches, friends and family as a football star, known to those close to him as a humble, driven personality on and off the field. He played for Reading Football Club in his youth and later for Reading’s FC Revolution League. He played all four years for the Reading High School Red Knights.

Rideout is due back in court for a preliminary hearing scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Nov. 20 before Gasper. A judge will then determine if there is enough evidence to send the case to Monroe County Common Pleas Court.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann can be reached at [email protected].