Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell announced Paula Louise Morano, 37, of Hamlin has been charged in the death of Margaret Branning, 94, of Beach Lake.
On December 26, 2019, as Morano made a left hand turn while exiting the parking lot from Joe’s Ranch House, 1054 Beach Lake Highway, Beach Lake, her vehicle crossed into the path of the vehicle driven by Alan Branning and his passenger, Margaret Branning. After an investigation of the accident, PA State Police determined Morano had both alcohol (.068% BAC) and THC in her system. Mrs. Branning passed away on January 4, 2020.
Moreno is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol and controlled substance, and other driving violations.
On March 13, she was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Bonnie Carney and remanded to the Wayne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000.00 bail. A preliminary hearing is to be scheduled.
“Driving under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances still persists in Wayne County” said Howell. “Tragically in this case, it resulted in the death of Mrs. Branning.”
*The filing of criminal charges is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Commonwealth against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the Commonwealth has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charges.