Aug. 27—MORGANTOWN — A Monongalia County jury has found a Pennsylvania man guilty on all charges in connection with a January 2024 crash on Interstate 79 that killed two Morgantown residents.
Thomas H. Horner III, 39, of Bobtown, was convicted Wednesday of two counts of negligent homicide and one count of reckless driving with injury. The verdict came after two days of testimony and deliberation in Monongalia County Circuit Court.
The charges stemmed from a Jan. 3 crash near the 149-mile marker of I-79 that involved multiple vehicles and shut down the interstate for nearly five hours. The wreck claimed the lives of ZaQuan “Za ” George, 21, and Margaret “Maggie ” Erdie, 19, both of Morgantown.
The jury heard the testimony of two separate eye-witnesses who both testified that Horner steered his vehicle in an attempt to block and run the vehicle driven by Zaquan George and Maggie Erdie off the road, during what was described as a “road rage ” incident. This action resulted in the vehicle containing George and Erdie losing control and careening across the median into opposing traffic. George and Erdie’s vehicle collided with another vehicle, causing serious injuries. Both George and Erdie died in the crash.
The state’s case was presented by attorney Robert Zak. Horner was represented by defense attorney Bryan Edwards.
Horner was originally arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court and released on personal recognizance bond shortly after the crash. Following Wednesday’s verdict, he now awaits sentencing.
Horner faces a sentence of confinement in regional jail for not more than one (1) year, a fine not less than $1, 000 nor more than $10, 000, or both for each count of Vehicular Homicide. He also faces a sentence of confinement in regional jail for not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one (1) year, a fine not less than $50 nor more than $1, 000, or both for his conviction for Reckless Driving with Serious Bodily Injury.