Executive Summary
- Cody J. Potthoff sentenced to 4-8 years in prison for a fatal 2023 crash.
- The collision on Route 97 in LeBoeuf Township killed Titusville resident Richard McCaslin.
- Potthoff pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle and careless driving charges.
A Corry, Pennsylvania resident was sentenced to state prison on Monday following a conviction related to a 2023 vehicular crash in LeBoeuf Township that resulted in the death of a Titusville man. The sentencing in Erie County Court brings a legal conclusion to the fatal incident that occurred late last summer.
According to court records, 34-year-old Cody J. Potthoff appeared before Erie County Judge David Ridge, who ordered him to serve a term of four to eight years in a state correctional institution. In addition to the prison term, Judge Ridge sentenced Potthoff to two years of probation. The defendant had previously pleaded guilty in May to a second-degree felony count of homicide by vehicle and a summary offense of careless driving.
The collision took place on August 30, 2023, along Route 97. Pennsylvania State Police investigators determined that Potthoff was operating a Chevrolet Silverado northbound when his vehicle crossed the center line into the southbound lane. The truck collided with a southbound Ford F-150 driven by 58-year-old Richard McCaslin of Titusville. Emergency responders pronounced McCaslin dead at the scene.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Judicial Closure & Safety Implications
This sentencing marks the final phase of the investigation into the Route 97 tragedy, illustrating the judicial metrics applied to vehicular homicide cases within the region. The imposed state prison term reflects the severity of traffic violations that result in fatalities, balancing punitive measures with sentencing guidelines. For local law enforcement and the community, the case reinforces the critical need for driver vigilance to prevent lane-departure incidents on rural two-lane highways.
