BRODHEADSVILLE, Pa. -- Nearly three months after a head-on car crash killed a state senator, the driver of the other vehicle expects to face criminal charges -- and a wrongful death claim by the lawmaker's estate and his widow.

Sen. James Rhoades, 66, and his wife, Mary, were headed to an event in the Poconos on Oct. 17 when the Cadillac he was driving collided with a pickup truck driven by Thomas Senavitis, 45. The seven-term Republican from Schuylkill County died the following day.

Attorney Christopher Hobbs, the late senator's son-in-law, has since written to Mr. Senavitis that "a claim for personal injury and wrongful death is being made against you by Mary Edith Rhoades and the estate of James J. Rhoades." Mr. Senavitis' wife, Dolores, received an identical letter. Mr. Hobbs urged the couple to give the letters to their insurance carrier.

Beyond Mr. Hobbs' correspondence, no lawsuit has been filed against Mr. Senavitis. Mr. Hobbs declined to comment.

Mr. Senavitis, an auto mechanic, denied responsibility for the crash, but said he expects to face charges anyway, given Mr. Rhoades' stature.

"I'm just a nobody," Mr. Senavitis said in an interview at his home in rural Carbon County, where he is recuperating from a shattered right leg and other injuries. "I'll be guilty no matter what."

The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. on Route 209 near Brodheadsville. State police have said Mr. Rhoades was traveling north and that his car collided with Mr. Senavitis' truck heading the other way. Mr. Rhoades' car also struck a minivan that had pulled onto the northbound shoulder.

Mr. Senavitis said he was driving home from the bank when he suddenly saw the Cadillac in front of him in his lane.

"I couldn't even turn the steering wheel," he said. "I've turned it over and over and over. There's no humanly possible way I could avoid that crash."

The collision occurred on a bridge with narrow shoulders. Mr. Senavitis said he believes Mr. Rhoades either clipped the minivan and then went into his lane or veered into his lane to avoid hitting the minivan.

Though he has several dings on his driving record, including citations for careless driving and failing to drive at safe speed, Mr. Senavitis said he has the facts on his side.

"I'll go to my grave knowing what happened. I did not do anything wrong."

State police have concluded their investigation and turned the results over to Monroe County District Attorney David Christine, who will decide if charges are warranted.

State police Capt. James Murtin would not release any details of the police investigation Friday, including whether alcohol was involved or whether either of the drivers left their lane.

"I know that because of [Rhoades'] notoriety, that people's thirst for information may be greater. But it's no different than what the Pennsylvania State Police do normally," Capt. Murtin said.

A trooper initially wrote in a news release about the crash that Mr. Senavitis was cited for leaving his lane, but Capt. Murtin said no citation was filed.

The much-beloved Mr. Rhoades represented a northeastern Pennsylvania district and was the longtime chairman of the Senate Education Committee. The former school principal and football coach helped craft every major education initiative in recent history, including the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.

He won re-election posthumously in November. A special election will be held March 3 to determine his successor.

"I hate the fact it ever happened," Mr. Senavitis said. "I have nothing against the man. I thought he did his job and did it well."