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Lackawanna College receives grant from John and Helen Villaume Foundation

MFHS seeking nominations for Rose Allan Tucker Award

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A man charged in a hit-and-run that <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/521045/cyclist-injured-in-harveys-lake-hit-and-run-hospitalized" target="_blank">severely injured a bicyclist</a> earlier this year at Harveys Lake pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated assault charges and agreed to pay the victim nearly $45,000.</p><p>Gregory M. Strazdus, 47, of Dallas, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/536705/man-charged-with-hit-and-run-in-harveys-lake-heading-to-county-court-on-charges" target="_blank">was charged with hitting 52-year-old Kurt Manganella as he biked around Lakeside Drive March 9</a>.</p><p>Strazdus fled the scene, near Pole 69, but was later tracked to his residence after a neighbor reported noticing Strazdus&#8217; damaged Chevrolet Equinox in the driveway, police said.</p><p>Strazdus admitted to being at the lake at the time Manganella was struck and stated he believed he had hit a mailbox. He told police he slowed down, looked in the mirror and didn&#8217;t see anything so he continued driving.</p><p>Manganella, who was hospitalized with broken ribs, lung contusions and scrapes and bruises following the hit-and-run, later told police he had been hit by the passenger side front fender and, as he hit the ground, heard the engine rev and the vehicle speed up.</p><p>Luzerne County Judge Fred A. Pierantoni III accepted Strazdus&#8217; plea on charges of aggravated assault by vehicle and accidents involving death or personal injury &#8212; felonies that carry a maximum seven-year prison sentence &#8212; as well as a summary traffic violation.</p><p>Court documents indicate Strazdus, who is scheduled to be sentenced between Oct. 13-16, will serve at least 18 months in the county&#8217;s Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP) with the first six months on house arrest with electronic monitoring as part of the plea agreement.</p><p>The judge ordered Strazdus to pay Manganella $44,541 in restitution for medical bills and lost earnings and pen an apology letter.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Strazdus </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_Strazdus-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Strazdus </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Gregory Strazdus pleads guilty to Harveys Lake hit-and-run; ordered to pay $44K to victim