Police Arrest Man Charged With Vehicular Homicide For Halloween Day Motorcycle Crash
By: Shelley Bortz/KDKA-TV
ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- Police in Elizabeth Township have arrested a man facing charges for a crash that killed a motorcyclist last Halloween.
On Tuesday, the motorcyclist's family finally got the call that someone will be held accountable for their loved one's death.
"There's not a day that goes by that I just really sit here and cry," said Anita Bocan.
Bocan said Tuesday is the first day she has felt good since her daughter, Christina, was killed. She said she was still in bed when Elizabeth Township police called her with the news.
"I was relieved that this person was going to be taken into custody. It's been hard knowing nothing was happening," Anita Bocan said.
That call was to say Abdulhami Almansouri will have to answer for allegedly causing Christina Bocan's death. He was taken into custody and charged with vehicular homicide and other related charges.
Michael Bocan, Christina's brother, said, "I'm just happy we're one step closer to justice being served because nothing that ever happens is going to give my sister her life back."
It was Oct. 31 last year shortly before 5 p.m. when police said Almansouri crossed into oncoming traffic in his utility van at the intersection of McKeesport Road and Long Street and hit Christina Bocan and her boyfriend on their motorcycles.
Christina Bocan later died of her injuries. Her boyfriend lost a leg as a result.
Police said Almansouri remained on the scene and cooperated with investigators. There, he told them his van somehow malfunctioned, causing him to crash.
After months of investigation, police said they determined that to be untrue.
Elizabeth's Township Police Chief Kenneth Honick said, "We are part of the SHACOG Area Crash Reconstruction Team. One of my sergeants and an officer from South Park worked together with technical equipment and some scientific measurements, and we were able to determine that in fact, the cause of the accident was not equipment malfunction."
Chief Honick said the cause of the accident was due to driver distraction.
Anita Bocan said her daughter lived every day to its fullest and that makes her happy.
"She died enjoying what she loved riding her bike. She just enjoyed her life, Anita Bocan said.