Case Name: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee, v. Louis T. MATRONI, Jr., Appellant
Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 2007-04-19
Citations: 923 A.2d 444
Docket Number: 
Parties: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee, v. Louis T. MATRONI, Jr., Appellant.
Judges: BEFORE: STEVENS, BOWES, and McCAFFERY, JJ.
Reporter: West's Atlantic Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 923
Pages: 444–460

Head Matter:
COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee, v. Louis T. MATRONI, Jr., Appellant.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Submitted Oct. 10, 2006.
Filed April 19, 2007.
Andrea E. Mertz, Public Defender, Reading, for appellant.
Douglas J. Wattman, Asst. Dist. Atty., Reading, for Com., appellee.
BEFORE: STEVENS, BOWES, and McCAFFERY, JJ.

Opinion:
OPINION BY
STEVENS, J.:
¶ 1 Appellant, Louis T. Matroni, Jr., appeals from an April 11, 2005 judgment of sentence entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County. We affirm.
¶ 2 This case stems from a March 5, 2004 auto accident which caused the death of Susan Story. As a result of the accident, Matroni was charged with homicide by vehicle under 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3732, a felony in the third degree, as well as the summary offenses of overtaking a vehicle on the right, 75 Pa.C.S.A § 3304, reckless driving, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3736, following too closely, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3310, driving on roadways laned for traffic, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3309, and driving at a safe speed, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3361. Following a March, 2005 jury trial, Ma-troni was found guilty of all charges. He was subsequently sentenced to eight to 23 months' imprisonment on the homicide by vehicle conviction. After a motion to modify his sentence was denied, Matroni filed this timely appeal on May 2, 2005. He raises the following issues for our review:
A.Whether the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict of the jury finding the defendant guilty of homicide by vehicle when the Commonwealth failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted recklessly or with gross negligence?
B. Whether the lower court erred when it improperly instructed the jury that in order to invoke the sudden emergency doctrine that the defendant was required to prove that there was a sudden emergency by a preponderance of the evidence?
C. Whether the imposition of a sentence of not less than 8 nor more than 23 months was a manifest abuse of discretion when the defendant had no prior criminal record, a stable family life, a good work history and the court improperly speculated that the defendant lacked remorse based on his observations of the defendant's demeanor during trial?
Appellant's brief at 5.
¶ 3 We turn first to Matroni's argument that the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction for violation of Section 3732 of the Vehicle Code. Pursuant to that section:
Any person who recklessly or with gross negligence causes the death of another person while engaged in the violation of any law of this Commonwealth or municipal ordinance applying to the operation or use of a vehicle or to the regulation of traffic except section 3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) is guilty of homicide by vehicle, a felony of the third degree, when the violation is the cause of death.
75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3732(a). Thus to sustain a conviction under Section 3732(a), the Commonwealth was required to prove that Ma-troni caused the death of Susan Story by acting recklessly or with gross negligence, while violating a law or municipal ordi nance under the conditions set forth in the statute. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3732(a).
¶ 4 Here, Matroni does not dispute that his actions caused Susan Story's death. Nor does he dispute that he violated the law by committing the five summary offenses for which he was charged. Instead, Matroni limits his argument on appeal to an assertion that the Commonwealth failed to prove that he acted with the required recklessness or gross negligence. Appellant's brief at 14.
¶ 5 To determine whether the Commonwealth met its burden of proof in this regard, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, as verdict winner. Commonwealth v. Kinney, 863 A.2d 581, 584 (Pa.Super.2004).
As an appellate court, we do not assess credibility nor do we assign weight to any of the testimony of record. Instead, we review the totality of evidence offered at trial to determine if it lends adequate support to the verdict. See Commonwealth v. Cassidy, 447 Pa.Super. 192, 668 A.2d 1143, 1144 (Pa.Super.1995) (noting that this court "may not weigh the evidence and substitute [its] judgment for the fact-finder").
Kinney, 863 A.2d at 584. The evidence introduced during Matroni's trial, when viewed in such a light, revealed the following:
¶ 6 In the pre-dawn hours of March 5, 2004, Matroni was traveling in the left southbound lane of the Fruitville Pike, in Lancaster County. N.T. 3/4/05 at 451. Luis Ortiz was stopped at a red light in the right southbound lane when he first observed Matroni's car as it stopped beside him. N.T. 3/2/05 at 136. When the light turned green, Ortiz pulled out. Id. at 137. He did not note the actions of Matroni's car, but as Ortiz continued along the Fruit-ville Pike at approximately 40 miles per hour, he observed a tractor trailer traveling in the left southbound lane five to seven car lengths ahead of him. Id. at 138, 140. The tractor trailer, a flat-bed carrying a piece of machinery, had its lights on. Id. at 139-140.
¶ 7 As Ortiz continued to travel in the right southbound lane, a pick-up truck passed him in the left southbound lane, tailgated by Matroni's car. Id. at 145. Ortiz estimated that Matroni was traveling around 60 miles per hour, and was only a foot away from the pick-up truck in front of him. Id. at 145-146. At this point, all three vehicles were approaching the tractor trailer traveling in the left southbound lane. Id. at 146. After the pick-up truck and Matroni passed Ortiz, they cut in front of his vehicle into the right southbound lane. Id. at 147. Once in the right southbound lane, the pickup slowed down. Id. at 147-148. Ortiz observed Matroni brake, cut into the left southbound lane, directly behind the tractor trailer, brake again, then cut back into the right southbound lane. Id. at 147-149. At that point, Matroni lost control of his car, swerved back into the left southbound lane, appearing to Ortiz to strike the tractor trailer, bounce oft, then swerve and strike the tractor trailer again. Id. at 149-150, 154-156.
¶ 8 When asked to explain the result of the impact of Matroni's car with his tractor trailer, the tractor trailer driver testified that he felt a jolt, and his truck was pushed to the left. N.T. 3/2/05 at 96. Despite his best efforts to steer to the right, the truck would not respond and veered into the oncoming traffic in the northbound lanes, where it struck the vehicle driven by Susan Story. Id. at 96-98, 100-102. Mrs. Story died as a result of the multiple traumatic injuries caused by the collision. N.T. 3/3/05 at 226.
¶ 9 The Commonwealth also introduced testimony from Sergeant Jeffrey Jones, a vehicle collision analysis and reconstruction expert employed by the Manheim Township Police Department. N.T. 3/3/05 at 294. Sergeant Jones responded to the scene of the accident and performed a comprehensive investigation, which included mapping the scene, collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and the involved parties, and inspecting the vehicles. Id. at 304, 369. As the result of his findings, Sergeant Jones expressed his unequivocal expert opinion that the cause of the collision between Matroni's car and the tractor trailer was Matroni's reckless driving, including speeding and erratic lane changes. Id. at 372. Sergeant Jones further rendered an unequivocal expert opinion that the collision between Matroni's vehicle and the tractor trailer in turn caused the tractor trailer to collide with Susan Story's vehicle. Id. at 369-371. Specifically, Sergeant Jones explained that Matroni's action in driving his vehicle into the right front wheel of the tractor trailer forced it to turn into the oncoming traffic where it collided with Susan Story's vehicle. Id. at 368-369.
¶ 10 We find that the above evidence, which showed that Matroni was speeding, tailgating, and erratically changing lanes, was sufficient to show that he acted in a reckless and grossly negligent matter.
¶ 11 "The concept of gross negligence is encompassed within the concept of recklessness as set forth in Section 302(b)(3) [of the Crimes Code]." Commonwealth v. Grimes, 842 A.2d 432, 434 (Pa.Super.2004) (citing Commonwealth v. Huggins, 575 Pa. 395, 836 A.2d 862 (2003)). Section 302, which pertains to the "General requirements of culpability," states that:
A person acts recklessly with respect to a material element of an offense when he consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the material element exists or will result from his conduct. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that, considering the nature and intent of the actor's conduct and the circumstances known to him, its disregard involves a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the actor's situation.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 302(b)(3).
¶ 12 Athough Matroni asserts that his actions were not reckless, we disagree. His course of conduct immediately prior to the accident violated five separate provisions of the Vehicle Code. Matroni does not dispute that he violated Section 3736, which states that "[a]ny person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving." 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3736(a). Nor does he argue that he was not in violation of Section 3310 when he tailgated the vehicles in front of him without due regard for their speed. 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3310. Neither does Matroni claim that he was driving at a safe speed in order to avoid violation of Section 3361. No challenge to his violation of Section 3304 for overtaking a vehicle on the right was made, and it is undisputed that he failed to comply with 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3309, by changing lanes without first ascertaining that the movement could be made with safety.
¶ 13 We find that Matroni's actions evidenced a conscious disregard of the substantial and unjustified risk that he would be involved in a traffic accident causing death. His cumulative conduct was reckless, and the evidence supports the jury's finding that he was guilty of homicide by vehicle beyond a reasonable doubt.
¶ 14 Matroni also seeks relief on appeal by arguing that "the lower court erred when it improperly instructed the jury that in order to invoke the sudden emergency doctrine that the defendant was required to prove that there was a sudden emergency by a preponderance of the evidence." Appellant's brief at 5. For the following reasons, we find that Matroni is not entitled to reversal on these grounds.
¶ 15 A review of the record shows that Matroni requested the trial court to instruct the jury on the sudden emergency doctrine based on his claim that while chiving prudently, he was faced with a perilous situation. The Commonwealth, which, as we noted above, had introduced substantial evidence that Matroni had been driving recklessly, opposed such an instruction. N.T. 3/7/05 at 625. The trial court consented to Matroni's request, and included an explanation of the sudden emergency doctrine in its jury instructions.
¶ 16 The portion of those instructions pertinent to the question currently before us began with the definition of homicide by vehicle, in accordance with Section 3732 of the Vehicle Code. N.T. 3/7/05 at 653. The trial court then explained that "the defendant has been charged with vehicular homicide while engaged in violating five sections of the Vehicle Code." Id. at 653. The trial court specifically explained to the jury that:
In order to find the defendant guilty of vehicular homicide, you must be satisfied that the following four elements have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Element Number 1, that the defendant violated one or more of the Vehicle Code Sections I have just identified for you. Element Number 2, that under the circumstances, the defendant acted recklessly or with gross negligence by driving in a manner that violated one or more of those Vehicle Code sections. Element Number 3, that Susan Story is dead. And Element Number 4, that the defendant's violation of one or more of the Vehicle Code sections was a direct cause of her death.
Id. at 653-654. The trial court then proceeded to define the five sections of the Vehicle Code. Id. at 656-660. As part of its description of the fifth and final section, regarding driving at a safe speed, the trial court included the following:
Now, as I've just instructed you, ladies and gentlemen, this section of the Vehicle Code includes what the law in Pennsylvania recognizes as the assured clear distance ahead rule.
That is that a driver must not operate his vehicle at a speed greater than will permit him to bring his vehicle to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.
That is, a driver must keep his vehicle under such control that he can always stop within the distance that he can clearly see, a distance that will vary according to the attending circumstances.
The assured clear distance ahead rule applies to objects which are static or essentially static and it applies to vehicles moving in the same direction.
Now, even though that statute includes the assured clear distance ahead rule, Pennsylvania also has what is know as the sudden emergency rule, which if applicable, negates the application of the assured clear distance ahead rule.
This means that you must first decide if the defendant was confronted by a sudden emergency. If you find that he was so confronted, then he was excused from maintaining an assured clear distance.
A sudden emergency may be a sudden blocking of the road, a sudden swerving of a vehicle or any occurrence requiring some form of an immediate evasive action.
To invoke the sudden emergency doctrine, the defendant must establish a sudden emergency by a preponderance of the evidence and it must appear that he was driving with due regard for the condition of the highway and traffic conditions.
Under the sudden emergency doctrine, a clear emergency must arise suddenly from inside the range of the assured clear distance. There must be a sudden and unexpected interjection of an instrumentality within that range such that there was no opportunity to assess the danger and to respond appropriately.
The sudden emergency doctrine applies only to moving instrumentalities suddenly and unexpected thrust into a driver's path of travel. The emergency must be unforeseeable to the driver and of such severity as to put a driver in instantaneous disability.
The emergency must be clear and sudden to such a degree that a reasonable man would not differ if the driver was acting under such an emergency.
If a person's own negligence creates the sudden emergency, that driver may not rely on that rule to justify his failure to stop within the assured clear distance.
So let me just recap, ladies and gentlemen. If you determine that there was a sudden emergency, and you have to make that decision, then the assured clear distance ahead rule does not apply.
On the other hand, if you determine that there was not a sudden emergency, then the defendant was held to the assured clear distance ahead.
Id. at 660-662.
¶ 17 When the trial court concluded the jury instructions, a sidebar discussion was held during which the following exchange occurred regarding the portion of the instructions pertaining to the sudden emergency doctrine.
THE COURT: Corrections or additions?
MR. PATTERSON [for Matroni]: Your Honor, there are two matters on the points for charge. Number 1, the proof, the burden of proof of the sudden emergency doctrine of the defendant by the preponderance of the evidence.
THE COURT: . You want me to tell them that it's beyond a reasonable doubt? What is the standard?
MR. PATTERSON [for the Commonwealth]: . Frankly, I'm not sure whether there is any standard, but I want to make sure that I have the record preserved.
THE COURT: I think if you're asking me to correct it, I think you should be telling me what you want me to instruct the jury.
MR. PATTERSON: I would say that there's no burden of proof. If they find it. In don't think it's a burden of proof. THE COURT: They have to have a burden of proof to find anything. It's either got to be a preponderance of the evidence, clear and convincing, or beyond a reasonable doubt.
MR. PATTERSON: Well, the Commonwealth has to disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
THE COURT: The person asserting it has to — your objection is noted.
Id. at 665-666.
¶ 18 Matroni now asks us to find reversible error based on the trial court's placement of the burden of proof with regard to the sudden emergency doctrine. We find, however, that he is not entitled to relief on these grounds because it was error for the trial court to instruct the jury on the sudden emergency doctrine in the first place. Further, because this error had the potential to prejudice the Commonwealth, not Matroni, Matroni is not entitled to relief on his claim that the content of the instruction was incorrect. Commonwealth v. Spano, 451 Pa.Super. 226, 679 A.2d 240, 244 (1996) (citing Commonwealth v. Blystone, 421 Pa.Super. 167, 617 A.2d 778, 785 (1992) ("[E]ven if we found that the trial court erred in instructing the jury, we can only grant relief if the error prejudiced the appellant.")); Kukow ski v. Kukowski, 385 Pa.Super. 172, 560 A.2d 222, 224 (1989) ("Reversible error will be found only where the jury instruction has been shown to have been harmful or prejudicial to the complaining party, as well as erroneous.").
¶ 19 The trial court erred in instructing the jury on the sudden emergency doctrine because that doctrine, a civil concept, is not a recognized defense to which Matroni was entitled to a jury instruction. As Ma-troni himself acknowledges, "the trial court is under a duty to instruct the jury on the correct legal principles applicable to the facts presented at trial." Commonwealth v. Cox, 546 Pa. 515, 530, 686 A.2d 1279, 1286 (1996) (emphasis added). Here, the sudden emergency doctrine is not a legal principle applicable to the Vehicle Code charges in question.
¶20 Even the trial court and counsel recognized the impropriety of applying a civil principle to a criminal case, as is apparent from their confusion over the appropriate burden of proof. Their uncertainty is further illustrated by their continued discussion regarding Matroni's potential negligence in creating the sudden emergency:
MR. PATTERSON [for Matroni]: . that's a civil standard and we're dealing with a criminal case....
THE COURT: What is correct?
MR. BROWN [for the Commonwealth]: If anything, Judge, I wouldn't have an objection to you saying that the defendant's own conduct can't create it. I understand his concern is the civil aspect versus criminal.
THE COURT: Well, it is a civil law concept. That's why the burden is always by a preponderance of the evidence. I'll correct that if you two agree on what you want me to say.
MR. BROWN: Well, like I said, the only thing I would say is that the defendant's own conduct, you don't have to prove that his own criminal conduct created the emergency.
THE COURT: Would you be satisfied by that? A person's own conduct creates a sudden emergency, that driver may not rely upon the rule to justify his failure to stop within the assured clear distance ahead. If you're asking me to correct it.
MR. PATTERSON: I would say that you have to say that — I would ask the Court to say that the defendant's conduct would have to be criminal recklessness—
MR. BROWN: That's not the standard, Judge.
THE COURT: I'll correct it to a person's own conduct, but I won't say civil negligence. Do you want that done or leave it the way it is?
MR. PATTERSON: I would ask that it go the way I specified just so I can preserve it.
THE COURT: Well, the thing is, Mr. Patterson, this is a civil concept. There's no question about it.
MR. PATTERSON: I understand that.
Id. 667-668.
¶ 21 Extensive research has revealed no cases wherein a defendant has been permitted to successfully employ the sudden emergency doctrine as a defense to criminal charges, and we decline to allow Ma-troni to do so in this case.
¶ 22 Even if the sudden emergency doctrine were to be applied in this case, Matroni cannot avail himself of that defense. Matroni argues that a sudden emergency arose when the pick-up truck traveling in front of him changed lanes, revealing the slow moving tractor trailer. The sudden emergency doctrine, however, does not apply to vehicles moving in the same direction, nor does it apply when the defendant is responsible for creating the emergency. As a panel of this Court explained in Cunningham v. Byers, 732 A.2d 655 (Pa.Super.1999):
Generally a jury should not be instructed on both the assured clear distance ahead rule and the sudden emergency doctrine since the two are mutually exclusive. This is based on the rationale that the assured clear distance ahead rule applies to essentially static or static objects including vehicles moving in the same direction, while the sudden emergency doctrine applies only to moving instrumentalities thrust into a driver's path of travel.
Id., 732 A.2d at 658 (citing Elder v. Orluck, 334 Pa.Super. 329, 483 A.2d 474, 482 (1984) (emphasis added)). See also Kukowski 560 A.2d at 225 ("[T]he 'assured clear distance ahead' rule applies to static or essentially static objects while the 'sudden emergency' doctrine only applies to moving instrumentalities suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into a driver's path of travel.").
¶ 23 Here, the tractor trailer, a vehicle moving in the same direction as Matroni, was clearly not suddenly or unexpectedly thrust into Matroni's path of travel. Even if we were to assume that the tractor trailer decelerated quicldy, sudden braking has been held not to constitute a sudden emergency. Carpinet v. Mitchell, 853 A.2d 366 (Pa.Super.2004). Carpinet resulted from a rear end collision caused by the sudden breaking of a vehicle. The plaintiff, traveling behind that vehicle, successfully stopped, but the defendant, traveling behind the plaintiff, could not, and collided with the plaintiffs car. Id., 853 A.2d at 369. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, and the defendant argued on appeal that it was error for the trial court to fail to give a sudden emergency instruction. Id., 853 A.2d at 368-370. The Court found, however, that "sudden braking on a highway must be deemed a foreseeable occurrence. Indeed, any sudden or unexpected peril in this matter was created in part by [the defendant's] own actions in apparently following too closely behind [the plaintiff].... " Id., 853 A.2d at 374.
¶24 Thus, the sudden emergency doctrine is not applicable to the circumstances at hand, since the tractor trailer was moving in the same direction as Matroni's vehicle. Additionally, Matroni cannot avail himself of the doctrine because he himself was the cause of the sudden emergency. As we noted above, research revealed no criminal cases wherein Pennsylvania courts permitted a defendant to successfully assert the sudden emergency doctrine as a defense to criminal negligence. A few cases exist, however, wherein a defendant unsuccessfully attempted to benefit from application of the doctrine.
¶ 25 In Commonwealth v. Morris, 205 Pa.Super. 105, 207 A.2d 921 (1965), a panel of this Court refused to permit an appellant to escape criminal responsibility for the results of a sudden emergency of his own making. Id. at 924. The defendant in was charged with involuntary manslaughter as the result of a fatal three car accident. Id. at 922. Several witnesses for the Commonwealth, one of whom narrowly avoided the collision, testified that the defendant attempted to perform an illegal u-turn (from the right hand east bound lane into the west bound lane) on the Pennsylvania Turn Pike. Id. 207 A.2d at 923. A fatal three car collision occurred. Id. The defendant denied stopping or attempting a u-turn. Id. His passenger testified that the collision was caused by one of the other vehicles involved. Id. On appeal, the defendant unsuccessfully argued that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for involuntary manslaughter. Id. The Court disagreed, finding that "Appellant may not thus escape responsibility for the result of the sudden emergency created by his own criminal negligence." Id. at 924 (emphasis added). Similarly, in Commonwealth v. Morgan, 197 Pa.Super. 486, 179 A.2d 681 (1962), a panel of this Court held that the sudden emergency rule cannot be invoked by one whose wrongful conduct created the emergency or gave rise to the situation of peril. Id., 179 A.2d at 682.
¶ 26 Even in the civil context, courts have held that a person cannot avail themselves of the sudden emergency doctrine if the emergency was of their own making. Lockhart, 542 Pa. at 150-151, 665 A.2d at 1180; Kennedy v. Balogh, 397 Pa. 638, 644-645, 156 A.2d 847, 851 (1959); Cannon v. Tabor, 434 Pa.Super. 232, 642 A.2d 1108, 1113 (1994) (citing McKee v. Evans, 380 Pa.Super. 120, 551 A.2d 260, 273 (1988) ("One invoking the defense of sudden emergency cannot be responsible for creating that very peril.... Thus, one driving carelessly or recklessly cannot avail himself of the rule's protection, since, normally, the peril would not have arisen in the first instance.")); Henry v. Trabosh, 224 Pa.Super. 372, 307 A.2d 446, 448 (1973) ("The sudden emergency rule will not apply if the emergency arises through the prior negligence of the person in whose behalf the court invokes its protection. The rule does not excuse the fault of one who by his own antecedent negligence . or conduct has brought about or created the emergency.").
¶ 27 Here, Matroni was convicted of failing to drive at a safe speed, reckless driving, following too closely, and violating Vehicle Code provision pertaining to driving on roadways laned for traffic and overtaking a vehicle on the right. These actions more than support a conclusion that even if the sudden emergency doctrine were to apply, which we find it does not, Matroni's conduct created the emergency situation and would prevent him from invoking the doctrine.
¶ 28 Finally, because Matroni was convicted of four summary offenses apart from the offense relevant to the instruction in question (none of which he challenges), his conviction for homicide by vehicle was amply supported by those violations, completely untainted by any error associated with the sudden emergency instruction. For the foregoing reasons, Matroni is not entitled to relief on these grounds.
¶ 29 Matroni's final contention challenges his sentence. In doing so, Matroni acknowledges that his sentence was within the standard range of the sentencing guidelines. Appellant's brief at 26. Thus his challenge is to the discretionary aspects of his sentence.
A defendant cannot appeal as of right from the discretionary aspects of a sentence. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9781(b). In order to appeal the discretionary aspects of a sentence, the defendant must set forth in his brief a statement of the reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal, and such statement must precede the defendant's argument on the merits. Pa. R.A.P. 2119(f). Further, the defendant's statement must raise a substantial question as to whether the court properly considered the sentencing guidelines. Commonwealth v. Koehler, Jr., 558 Pa. 334, 737 A.2d 225, 244 (1999).
Commonwealth v. Begley, 566 Pa. 239, 301 780 A.2d 605, 642 (2001).
¶ 30 Here, Matroni has included in his appellate brief a statement of reasons relied upon for allowance of appeal, pursuant to Rule 2119(f). Thus, he has complied with the procedural requirements for a challenge to the discretionary aspects of sentence. Commonwealth v. Tuladziecki, 513 Pa. 508, 522 A.2d 17 (1987). Accordingly, we may proceed to a determination of whether Matroni's challenge raises a substantial question.
¶ 31 Matroni first argues that the imposition of an eight to 23 month sentence was a manifest abuse of discretion because he had no prior criminal record, had a stable family life, and a good work history. Appellant's brief at 22, 25-26. This is essentially a claim that the trial court failed to properly consider mitigating factors when fashioning Matroni's sentence. "[T]his Court has held on numerous occasions that a claim of inadequate consideration of mitigating factors does not raise a substantial question for our review." Commonwealth v. Bullock, 868 A.2d 516, 529 (Pa.Super.2005) (citing Commonwealth v. Wellor, 731 A.2d 152 (Pa.Super.1999); Commonwealth v. Bershad, 693 A.2d 1303 (Pa.Super.1997); Commonwealth v. Urrutia, 439 Pa.Super. 227, 653 A.2d 706 (1995), appeal denied, 541 Pa. 625, 661 A.2d 873 (Pa.1995)).
¶ 32 Matroni additionally asserts that in fashioning his sentence, the lower court impermissibly considered his alleged lack of remorse. While claims that a sentence is based on the consideration of an impermissible factor have been found to constitute substantial questions, the consideration of a defendant's level of remorse has not been found to be an impermissible factor. Begley, 566 Pa. at 301, 780 A.2d at 642-643; Commonwealth v. Fullin, 892 A.2d 843, 849-850 (Pa.Super.2006); Commonwealth v. Griffin, 804 A.2d 1, 11 (Pa.Super.2002); Commonwealth v. Jones, 433 Pa.Super. 266, 640 A.2d 914, 917 (1994); Commonwealth v. Minott, 395 Pa.Super. 552, 577 A.2d 928, (1990). In fact, it is clearly within the trial court's sound discretion to assess a defendant's remorse, or lack thereof. Id.; Commonwealth v. Druce, 796 A.2d 321, 337 (Pa.Super.2002) (citing Commonwealth v. Eicher, 413 Pa.Super. 235, 605 A.2d 337, 354 (1992), appeal denied, 533 Pa. 598, 617 A.2d 1272 (1992) ("The sentencing court is in the best position to judge the 'defendant's character, [and his] displays of remorse, defiance or indifference.' ")).
¶ 33 Here, the trial court explained its sentencing rationale as follows:
In imposing [Matroni's] sentence, I took into account the Defendant's age, character, education, work history, lack of prior criminal history and the many letters I received in his behalf. In addition, I considered the comments made by the Defendant, by his attorney and by the several individuals who spoke in his behalf at the sentencing. I also considered the guidelines of the Sentencing Code, the guidelines established by the Commission on Sentencing, the trial testimony, the Defendant's family history, the comments made by the Commonwealth at the sentencing (including a letter from the victim's family), the pre-sentence investigation report in its entirety and the penalty authorized by the Legislature.[ ] Finally, I noted that even though the Defendant expressed his sympathy for the victim's family, I did not perceive his remorse being sincere.
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) Opinion at 4.
¶ 34 Following careful review, we find that Matroni has shown no error on the part of the trial court in fashioning his sentence.
¶ 35 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Matroni's conviction and judgment of sentence.
¶ 36 Affirmed.
¶ 37 BOWES, J., FILES A CONCURRING AND DISSENTING OPINION.
. He has complied with the lower court's order to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of matters complained of on appeal.
. We note with extreme displeasure that in direct contradiction to the actual testimony, Matroni's appellate brief states that "Ortiz believed that the pick up-truck suddenly put on its brakes...." Appellant's brief at 17 (citing N.T. 3/2/05 at 147-150) (emphasis added). In fact, when Ortiz was asked to characterize the pick-up truck's deceleration, he specifically stated "I would say that he just took his foot off the gas," and "I would have seen the lights if he would have pressed the brakes." N.T. 3/2/05 at 147-148.
. In Grimes, the defendanl/appellant drove his car across the center line into oncoming traffic, striking the victim's car and killing him. Grimes, 842 A.2d at 433. The resulting conviction under Section 3732 was affirmed by a panel of this Court. Id. The Grimes Court noted that although Huggins "discusses the distinction between negligence, gross negligence and recklessness in the context of 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2504, Involuntary manslaughter, the rationale is equally applicable to 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3732, Homicide by vehicle." Grimes, 842 A.2d at 433 n. 5.
. In Lockhart v. List, 542 Pa. 141, 665 A.2d 1176 (1995), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court explained the tort concept of sudden emergency as follows:
The sudden emergency doctrine . is available as a defense to a party who suddenly and unexpectedly finds him or herself confronted with a perilous situation which permits little or no opportunity to apprehend the situation and act accordingly. The sudden emergency doctrine is frequently employed in motor vehicle accident cases wherein a driver was confronted with a perilous situation requiring a quick response in order to avoid a collision. The rule provides generally, that an individual will not be held to the "usual degree of care" or be required to exercise his or her "best judgment" when confronted with a sudden and unexpected position of peril created in whole or in part by someone other than the person claiming protection under the doctrine. The rule recognizes that a driver who, although driving in a prudent manner, is confronted with a sudden or unexpected event which leaves little or no time to apprehend a situation and act accordingly should not be subject to liability simply because another perhaps more prudent course of action was available. Rather, under such circumstances, a person is required to exhibit only an honest exercise of judgment. The purpose behind the rule is clear: a person confronted with a sudden and unforeseeable occurrence, because of the shortness of time in which to react, should not be held to the same standard of care as someone confronted with a foreseeable occurrence. It is important to recognize, however, that a person cannot avail himself of the protection of this doctrine if that person was himself driving carelessly or recklessly.
Id. 542 Pa. at 150-151, 665 A.2d at 1180.
. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3361, pertaining to driving at a safe speed, states as follows:
No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing, nor at a speed greater than will permit the driver to bring his vehicle to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead. Consistent with the foregoing, every person shall drive at a safe and appropriate speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railroad grade crossing, when approaching and going around curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway and when special hazards exist with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.
75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3361.
. As we noted above, Matroni does not contest the sufficiency of the evidence to support these convictions.
. "Where a presentence report exists, and the sentence is within the sentencing guideline ranges, the appellate court will presume the sentencing court was aware of any and all relevant information contained in the report and weighed those considerations along with all mitigating factors." Commonwealth v. Ellis, 700 A.2d 948, 958 (Pa.Super. 1997) (citation omitted).