Washington County Vehicular Homicide Trial Concludes

A Virginia truck driver on trial for striking and killing a man who was working on his disabled truck on Interstate 70 awaits a verdict. Hosea Holcomb, 28 of Emporium, Virginia took the stand in his defense in his non jury trial on Friday. After his attorney played 90 minutes of Pennsylvania State Police interview footage of Holcomb as he was pulled over on I-70 and later at the police barracks, Holcomb gave his story of how events played out in January of 2021 and why he made decisions that he did. Holcomb testified that he did not realize that he struck and killed John Isenberg of Ohio as he worked on his disabled tractor trailer. He testified that he thought he had a close call with the disabled vehicle. Video footage played during the three day trial showed Holcomb driving in a state of what seemed to be extreme sleepiness, despite just finishing a 45 minute power nap minutes earlier. Footage of him twice using an expletive phrase and making a sign of the cross on his chest were explained by him saying he was grateful that, as he perceived the situation, he survived a close call. Judge Gary Gilman has taken the testimony under advisement and will have a decision in the coming weeks.