Bethlehem Township police

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A drunk driver who crashed into a tree and killed his passenger in Bethlehem Township has been sentenced, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta announced on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Randy Diomar Donato, 32, of Easton, caused the fatal single-vehicle crash along William Penn Highway near Chipman Road at 2:07 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, police said.

Donato was driving a 2006 Nissan Altima when he lost control and hit a tree on the north side of the highway, according to investigators. His passenger, 35-year-old Nicole Danielle Guzman of Easton, was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt-force trauma, the Northampton County Coroner’s Office said. Her death was ruled accidental.

Donato was hospitalized with injuries after the crash. Officers met him at the hospital and found a flask on his person, along with beer bottle caps and a 22-ounce Guinness bottle inside the car, according to the district attorney’s office. A blood analysis later revealed a BAC of 0.208 percent, more than two and a half times the legal limit, officials said.

He was charged with Homicide by Vehicle While DUI, DUI: Highest Rate of Alcohol, and related DUI offenses, police said. Donato pleaded guilty before Judge John M. Morganelli on Monday, Sept. 29.

Judge Morganelli sentenced him to 4 to 10 years in state prison on Tuesday, Nov. 25, according to the district attorney’s office.

Bethlehem Township Police Department led the investigation with assistance from the Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company, Nancy Run Fire Company, and Easton Police Department.