Second driver in fatal crash charged with vehicular manslaughter | Crime

On the same day as funeral services were held for a Fairport High School science teacher killed in a crash, one of the drivers was arraigned on more charges related to that same crash.

Megan Merkel now faces a total of three charges, including vehicular manslaughter. She was arraigned on that charge in Penfield Town Court on Thursday.

Monroe County Sheriff's Deputies say Merkel was driving a car and her companion, Mark Scerbo II, was on a motorcycle. Deputies say both were driving recklessly on Route 250 in Penfield. 40-year-old Heather Boyum was on that same road, riding her bike, when police say she was hit by Scerbo's motorcycle, forced into the road, and then run over by Merkel.

According to a statement from a witness, Merkel was out all night with friends, drinking until 6 a.m.

That witness, Nicholas McCarthy, told police he was in the car with Merkel and other passengers when "Mark Scerbo began driving recklessly around our vehicle. Mark was racing his motorcycle at high rates of speed, passing Megan on both sides."

McCarthy told police that after Mark hit the bicyclist, Megan slammed on her brakes and quote, "I heard the bike being dragged under the car. Megan seemed to take a long time to bring the car to a stop, due to bad brakes."

According to court documents, Merkel's intoxication coupled with inadequate brakes led her to strike the Fairport teacher and mother of two, killing her.

Merkel's bail was set at $25,000 cash. She's due back in court next Wednesday.