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Dump truck driver accused of causing deadly multi-vehicle crash sentenced to prison

Dump truck driver accused of causing deadly multi-vehicle crash sentenced to prison A man is going to prison for a crash that killed a woman in Richland Township.

A man is going to prison for a crash that killed a woman in Richland Township.

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Court documents show Franklin Simon, 33, of Uniontown, pleaded guilty to several charges, including homicide by vehicle, and DUI on Monday.

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Simon was sentenced to one to two years in prison. He was also sentenced to pay a $1,000 fine, attend safe driving school, comply with drug and alcohol screening, and receive treatment.

Simon was driving a dump truck that crashed into multiple vehicles on Route 8 in August 2023.

PHOTOS: 5-vehicle crash in Richland Township shuts down Route 8 in both directions for hours

Cinnamon Gilch, 53, of Gibsonia, was driving a Honda CR-V that investigators said was knocked into a pickup truck after being hit by the dump truck. Gilch died from blunt force injuries caused by the crash.

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Police said Simon was 46 minutes into a FaceTime call at the time of the crash and was going 52 and 55.7 mph in the 40 mph speed zone.

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His dump truck was found to have four pre-existing violations, some of which impacted its braking abilities.

Family members told Channel 11 that Gilch was preparing for her granddaughter’s birthday party when the crash happened.

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