NJ Woman Swatting At Bug Hits Motorcycle Head-On, Killing 2, Authorities, Reports Say

A Brick Township woman has been charged with homicide by vehicle after a crash in western Pennsylvania that killed two people on a motorcycle, according to court records.

Bernadette Ann Cobb, 55, was charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle, along with aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly endangering another person in connection with a crash that happened Wednesday in Brady, Pennsylvania, according to court records.

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Brady is in Clearfield County, about 90 minutes northwest of State College and 30 minutes north of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Cobb was driving a 2021 Nissan Rogue east on Route 219 when she drove into the oncoming lane and hit a 2013 Harley-Davidson motorcycle head-on, the Punxsutawney Spirit reported.

Anthony M. Sones, 34, who was driving the Harley, and his passenger, Miranda S. Wormuth, 30, both died as a result of the crash, which happened about 4:45 p.m. on Aug. 12, the report said.

Cobb told Pennsylvania State Police she was driving along when a bug blew into the SUV through an open window and she "freaked out," the Courier Express of DuBois reported, citing the probable cause affidavit.

Cobb said she put her head down and swiped at the bug, in the process turning the wheel, the Courier Express report said. Cobb's passenger tried to turn the wheel to get it back in the correct lane but couldn't avoid the crash.

State police said there were no indications at the scene that Cobb was impaired at the time of the crash, the Courier Express report said.

Cobb initially was held in the Clearfield County Jail but has been released on $100,000 bond, according to court records.

In addition to the other charges, she faces two counts of careless driving –unintentional death, and other traffic violations, according to the criminal complaint. Her preliminary hearing is set for Friday, according to court records.