FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP: Criminal charges have been filed against the driver involved in a fatal April 24, 2025 crash on Route 66 in Farmington Township that claimed the lives of a Leechburg couple.
According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday by Pennsylvania State Police in Marienville, 86-year-old Bette Lee McKenna of Tarentum allegedly turned into the path of an oncoming motorcycle at the intersection of Route 66 and Tylersburg Road, resulting in a head-on collision.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 10th at 9:30 AM before Magisterial District Judge Timothy P. Schill.
What Investigators Allege
Trooper John Matacic reported that at approximately 4:10 PM on April 24, 2025, McKenna was traveling northbound in a 2014 Honda CR-V when she attempted to make a left turn onto Tylersburg Road.
According to the complaint, she failed to yield to a southbound motorcycle operated by 71-year-old Robert A. Zanotto of Leechburg, who was traveling with his wife, 66-year-old Cheryl A. Zanotto.
Police state the front of McKenna’s vehicle struck the motorcycle head-on in the southbound lane.
Both Robert and Cheryl Zanotto were thrown from the motorcycle and came to rest underneath McKenna’s vehicle, suffering fatal injuries.
Investigators observed skid marks in the southbound lane, which Trooper Matacic attributed to the motorcycle braking prior to impact. The roadway was dry and there were no adverse weather conditions reported at the time of the crash.
Toxicology And Driver Condition
The complaint notes that McKenna appeared disoriented during an initial interview at the scene. She consented to a legal blood draw at Clarion Hospital.
Results from NMS Labs reportedly showed she was negative for drugs and alcohol.
At the time of the crash, McKenna’s passenger, 85-year-old Dale McKenna, was not injured. Both were wearing seat belts.
Charges Filed
Court records indicate McKenna now faces the following charges:
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2) – two counts
- Careless Driving – Unintentional Death (Summary) – two counts
- Reckless Driving (Summary) – two counts
- Turning Movements and Required Signals – General Rule (Summary) – two counts
- Vehicle Turning Left (Summary) – two counts
The charges stem from investigators’ determination that McKenna failed to properly yield while making a left-hand turn.
The Victims
According to earlier reports and the Clarion County Coroner’s Office:
- Robert Zanotto died at the scene from accidental blunt force injuries.
- He was not wearing a helmet.
- Cheryl Zanotto was transported by STAT MedEvac to Penn Highlands DuBois but later succumbed to her injuries.
- She was wearing a helmet.
Emergency response agencies included:
- PSP Marienville
- Clarion Hospital EMS
- Southern Clarion County Ambulance Service
- STAT MedEvac
- Farmington Township Volunteer Fire Company
- Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department
Route 66 remained closed in both directions for nearly three hours following the crash.
What Happens Next
McKenna’s preliminary hearing on March 10 will determine whether the charges proceed to Clarion County Court of Common Pleas.
The case now moves from crash investigation to the judicial process, as prosecutors seek to establish whether criminal liability can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
