A New Jersey driver, identified as Bernadette Cobb, 55, has been charged with homicide and involuntary manslaughter after a traffic incident on Aug. 12 in Luthersburg, Pennsylvania, where she allegedly veered into oncoming traffic and killed two motorcyclists. Police stated that Cobb became distracted by a bug that flew into her open car window around 4:45 p.m.
According to a police affidavit, Cobb told authorities she "cops that she 'freaked out' upon seeing the pest and tried to swipe the bug away, 'put[ting] her head down by accident.'" While she was distracted, her vehicle drifted into the lane of an oncoming 2013 Harley-Davidson. Cobb's passenger reportedly attempted to regain control of the steering wheel, but the vehicle still collided with the motorcycle.
The motorcyclists, identified as Anthony Sones, 34, and his passenger, Miranda Wormuth, 30, were pronounced dead at the scene. A GoFundMe established by Wormuth's family described Sones and Wormuth as partners of 14 years.
Cobb was arrested at the scene and has since posted $100,000 bail. Her attorney, Brian Manchester, described the crash as a "tragic accident" to NJ.com and stated that Cobb was taken into custody before an accident reconstruction had been completed. He added, "We will defend her vigorously."