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Charges filed in Sunday crash that killed two

By ERIC TICHY

etichy@post-journal.com

A 42-year-old Mayville man is facing a host of charges for a crash Sunday afternoon that claimed the lives of two people riding a motorcycle.

In a news release, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday released the names of the two Amherst residents killed in the crash that occurred on Route 394 at Woodlawn Road in the town of North Harmony. John Honan, 64, and Rhonda Honan, 53, were on a motorcycle when a pickup truck, being operated by Stefan Parkhurst of Mayville, reportedly made a left-turn turn into their path around 12:45 p.m.

John and Rhonda Honan were later pronounced dead.

Parkhurst is facing charges of reckless driving, operating without insurance, operating while registration suspended/revoked, improper turn, moving from lane unsafely and failure to yield right of way on left turn.

Firefighters from Ashville, Bemus Point and Chautauqua, along with Chautauqua County EMS, responded to the scene.

In all, three people were killed in south county crashes over the Labor Day holiday.

A 27-year-old man died in a one-vehicle crash on Goshen Road near Panama late Monday, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said. First responders from Panama, Clymer and Sherman were called to the accident, which was reported at about 11:30 p.m.

In a news release, the Sheriff’s Office said a vehicle rolled over with a person pinned under the vehicle. Deputies discovered that the 27-year-old driver, whose named has not been released, had “succumbed to his injuries,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

Chautauqua County EMS also responded late Monday to Goshen Road.

In neighboring Cattaraugus County, Olean-based state police were investigating an incident Sunday night on Cheese Factory Road where a driver struck multiple individuals that led to the death of one and injuries to five others.

Around 7:30 p.m., troopers report a 2014 Ford Fusion operated by 70-year-old Peggy J. Errera Bradford, Pa., was backing out of a driveway into the road. Errera intended to go straight, but never straightened the wheels as she accelerated the Ford.

The Ford accelerated back into the driveway and struck six people gathered in the front lawn of the residence. One of the victims, 81-year-old Ronald S. Piechota of Schenectady, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another 66-year-old victim was airlifted to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo with severe injuries. The four other victims were being treated at local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Errera was evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert and no signs of intoxication were detected.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in the investigation.

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