A 55-year-old Lehighton man has been sentenced for the death of Angela Pope, 47, of North Whitehall Township, after his vehicle struck her while she was jogging March 12, 2014, near 5836 Route 873, Washington Township.

Lehigh County Judge James Anthony sentenced Donald Vito, of 357 N. Fifth St., to not less than 12 months nor more than seven years in a state correctional institution for homicide by vehicle in the death of Pope.

As previously reported in The Press, Vito was southbound on Route 873 when his vehicle crossed over the center double yellow lines and into the northbound lane.

His vehicle then crossed the northbound lane fog line and struck Pope, who was jogging south on the northbound shoulder of Route 873. The vehicle then hit a utility pole.

Lehigh County Deputy Coroner David Krause pronounced Pope, of 5570 Stephanie Drive, dead at 12:27 p.m. at the scene.

An autopsy determined that Pope died of multiple blunt force trauma resulting from the collision.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, a motorist told state police she saw Vito's vehicle cross over the double yellow lines and into the northbound lane.

The woman told police she had to swerve to the right to avoid contact with Vito's vehicle, which struck Pope from behind as she was jogging.

The motorist told police Vito's vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed.

Another motorist who was behind Vito saw his vehicle swerving, driving at a high rate of speed and following another vehicle too closely.

That motorist said he saw Vito's vehicle enter the northbound lane in what he thought was an attempt to pass the other vehicle.

He saw Vito's vehicle enter the northbound lane and drive to the shoulder where it struck Pope.

A passenger in that motorist's vehicle said he saw Vito's vehicle weaving across both lanes of Route 873 and traveling into oncoming traffic.

Judge Anthony, in addition to sentencing Vito for homicide by vehicle, also ordered him to pay restitution to the estate of Angela Pope and fined him for the summary offenses of leaving his lane of travel, following too closely, driving at an unsafe speed, and careless and reckless driving.