MARIETTA, Pa. — A Lancaster County man was sentenced to a prison term of 5-10 years Monday for the DUI crash that killed his 41-year-old son.
Larry Rapp, 64, of Marietta, had previously pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle, seven different counts of DUI, possession of marijuana, and two summary traffic citations in connection to a December 3, 2022 crash that killed his son, Chad Rapp, the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office said.
The elder Rapp was sentenced at a hearing Monday morning before Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle, according to prosecutors.
Rapp admitted he was drunk and high when he crashed his white Ford Bronco on Prospect Road in West Hempfield Township, according to the case laid out by Assistant District Attorney Todd Brown.
According to the facts presented by Brown:
- West Hempfield Township Police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on Prospect Road and observed heavy front-end damage with the defendant extricated from the driver’s seat and receiving treatment from EMS.
- Officers located the victim in the passenger seat, who did not show signs of life.
- The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office later determined the victim’s cause of death to be multiple traumatic injuries due to the motor vehicle crash.
- The crash reconstruction showed left tire marks in the grass roadway edge, down an embankment, and leading up to collisions with three separate trees before coming to final rest by the roadway.
- The weather at the time of the crash was cloudy with the road clear of any debris and dry. No attempts at evasive steering or braking were observed prior to the crash.
- Officers and EMS reported a heavy odor of alcohol coming from the defendant and an executed search warrant for a blood sample showed the defendant’s BAC at 0.22%, nearly three times over the legal limit.
- Positive findings of cocaine and THC, the major psychoactive component of marijuana, were also found in the defendant’s blood sample after being sent to NMS Labs for testing.
- The defendant admitted to operating the vehicle that night and had consumed alcohol and potentially cocaine prior to driving, that his vehicle was not properly inspected due to exhaust issues, and that he was familiar with the roadway he was operating on.
- Further executed search warrants revealed the vehicle was in working order and found no mechanical issues that would have contributed to the crash although the inspection had expired.
The victim’s mother spoke during the proceeding and the defendant replied, “No sir,” when given the opportunity to speak by Judge Sponaugle.
Before sentencing the Defendant, Judge Sponaugle commented, “This is a tragedy and waste.”
Rapp must pay $8,010 in restitution for the victim’s funeral.
West Hempfield Township Police Corporal Ryan McKernan filed charges.
