A Lower Macungie Township man will spend up to 17 years in prison for a crash that killed a bicyclist three years ago in Lehigh County.
District Attorney Gavin Holihan said in a news release Monday that Anthony Michael Rutch, 52, was sentenced to four to 17 years in state prison for fatally hitting Alexander Zarnas with his vehicle March 9, 2021, in Lower Macungie.
Rutch pleaded guilty in November to charges of accidents involving death or personal injury and homicide by vehicle. He was sentenced Friday.
Rutch was driving about 5 p.m. in the 6600 block of Mountain Road when he hit Zarnas, who was cycling, according to authorities. Rutch left the scene and went back to his home on Rittenhouse Road, police said.
Zarnas, 36, of Emmaus, died two days later.
Rutch’s vehicle had front-end damage that was consistent with the crash, according to the DA’s office. Investigators charged him in September 2022.
“Tony accepts his punishment and expresses his sincere sorrow and apology for his decisions,” his attorney, Paul Lang, said Monday.
Zarnas was a 2003 Parkland High School graduate who was heavily involved in the insurance business, according to his obituary. He enjoyed outdoors, fitness, RC planes and construction projects, his obituary said. He left behind a wife and three children.
