Notice: Undefined offset: 0 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/single_post_meta_query.php on line 43
Notice: Trying to get property 'paywall' of non-object in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/single_post_meta_query.php on line 43
Chartiers Township woman charged in fatal I-79 crash
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
State police filed charges Monday against a Chartiers Township woman in connection with last year’s crash that killed a New York man and accused her of having cocaine and marijuana in her system at the time.
Rachel Ann Phillips, 35, faces a felony charge of homicide by vehicle, and misdemeanors of recklessly endangering another person and driving under the influence.
The crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. Aug. 23 on Interstate 79 South near the Canonsburg interchange. According to the criminal complaint, multiple witnesses saw Phillips’ vehicle swerve from the right lane of I-79 north, cross over the median and travel into opposing traffic.
Phillips struck a vehicle being operated by Gary M. Reinhardt head-on. Reinhardt, 58, of Lancaster, N.Y, was declared dead at the scene.
Two other vehicles traveling behind Reinhardt were also involved in the crash.
According to the complaint, Phillips was trapped in her vehicle when emergency responders arrived. After extricating her, firefighters and EMTs could smell alcohol on her breath, according to court documents. Police said there were multiple cans of an alcoholic beverage throughout her car.
Phillips was flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. According to the complaint, a blood test came back positive for cocaine and marijuana.
There is an active warrant for Phillips’ arrest.