Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin announced Feb. 16 that a New York man has been charged in relation to a 2016 fatal multivehicle crash.

Gary Pellegrino, 67, of 44 Durham Road, White Plains, N.Y., was charged with one count each of homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by motor vehicle, both felonies of the third degree.

Additional charges include: one count of involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor of the first degree; seven counts of recklessly endangering another person, a misdemeanor of the second degree; and one count each of reckless driving, careless driving, following too closely, and safe speed, all of which are summary offenses.

According to Martin, at approximately 2:20 p.m. Dec. 5, 2016, state police were dispatched to a crash on Route 222, Upper Macungie Township.

Upon arrival, Trooper Richard J. Walck found six vehicles involved in a chain reaction collision in the southbound lanes of Route 222, approximately 0.2 miles north of the Krocks Road intersection.

As a result of their investigation, state police determined four of the six vehicles were stopped at a steady red light at the time of the crash when a tractor trailer allegedly driven by Pellegrino struck the rear of one of the vehicles, causing the chain reaction.

Closest to the traffic light was Cayleigh Butz, 21, of 122 Front St., Alburtis, who was operating a Dodge Grand Caravan.

Behind her was a Ford F250 truck operated by Clarence Hausman, 60, of 10156 Dietrich Road, Breinigsville.

Behind Hausman’s vehicle was a Hyundai Elantra, driven by Michael George, 58, of 2001 24th Ave NW, Rio Rancho, N.M.

The front seat passenger in that vehicle was Carl George, 88, of 1048 Hamilton Blvd., Upper Macungie Township.

Fay Parry, 81, of 100 Ramapo Trail, Upper Macungie Township, was seated in the right rear of the Elantra.

Behind the Elantra was a Dodge Ram truck towing a utility trailer, which was driven by Andrew Profit, 54, of 9038 Mt. Carmel Road, Stokesdale, N.C.

Profit’s wife Marilyn, 55, was a passenger in the truck.

According to the investigation, all these vehicles were stopped in the right travel lane of southbound Route 222.

At the same time, Daniel Ajero, 21, of 734 Park St., Whitehall, was driving a Toyota Camry in the left travel lane passing the stopped vehicles.

The tractor trailer driven by Pellegrino allegedly struck the Dodge Ram and its trailer from the rear, causing a chain-reaction crash which impacted the other four vehicles.

As a result of the collision, Carl George, Michael George, Andrew and Marilyn Profit, and Clarence Hausman were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.

Parry died as a result of her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pellegrino is accused of being grossly negligent and reckless, causing the crash, which resulted in multiple injuries and death.