Sewickley Township, PA -- Pennsylvania State Police, in cooperation with the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office, filed criminal homicide charges against a West Newton man after a vehicle accident claimed the life of another man. 

Troopers were called to the area of Lowber Road in Sewickley Township on July 16, 2026 after a motorist came upon a motorcycle down in the middle of the roadway with an unresponsive operator. 

The motorcycle had heavy damage to the overall body of the bike. As troopers were responding, the victim was transported to Forbes Hospital. 

Investigators began canvassing the area for surveillance video and located a camera facing Lowber Road from a nearby residence. 

Police viewed the video and observed the motorcycle traveling east on Lowber Road with a champagne-colored crew cab truck following closely behind it. 

Another surveillance video from a nearby business was reviewed and it appears to show the truck making impact with the motorcycle before both exit the view of the camera. 

In the early morning hours of July 17, 2026, the hospital staff relayed to state police that the victim, Roy Holliday, was pronounced deceased. 

Later that day, the victim's girlfriend called state police to report additional information about the accident. 

She told investigators that the champagne-colored crew cab truck observed in the surveillance video was registered to her, but the truck was left at a residence where her ex-husband lives. 

The victim's girlfriend told police that Holliday was texting with her ex-husband, Ryan Thompson, on July 16, 2026 and the two exchanged messages that were contentious in nature. 

Police reviewed locations of the cell phones of Holliday and Thompson which put both of their locations near the scene of the accident and at the time of the crash before Thompson disconnected his cell phone minutes later. 

Troopers located the pickup truck allegedly involved in the accident at Thompson's residence and observed fresh damage to the front bumper area of the truck. 

Thompson told troopers he exchanged text messages with Holliday on July 16 and believed he heard Holliday revving his motorcycle outside of his residence. 

Thompson is facing charges of criminal homicide, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless driving, and recklessly endangering another person. He was denied bail. 

Disclaimer: To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all such charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.