Feb 7, 2013 2 min read

A 40-year-old Washington man was charged Wednesday by Smith Township police in connection with a Dec. 12 crash in which he was allegedly intoxicated and racing on Route 18.

Police said Barry Miller’s blood-alcohol content was more than 1 1/2 times the 0.08 percent limit presumed for intoxication.

Police were called to Route 18 near Cornerstone Care for a rollover crash with entrapment. A pickup truck was found off the road in a ditch. Miller, who had minor facial injuries, was stumbling around the vehicle. He later was taken to Washington Hospital for treatment.

Police said Miller frantically told them another person was in his truck. Police went to the truck and could see a man, later identified as Calvin Saxton, pinned between the seat and pillar of the truck. He was unresponsive. Slovan firefighters had to extricate him by cutting off the roof and doors of the truck. Saxton was flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment.

Inside the truck, police found an open can of beer as well as a cooler containing more beer.

Miller told police he called Saxton because he wanted to show off a turbo box that he had just installed on his truck. As Saxton got in the truck, Miller hit the gas pedal and started to fishtail. After regaining control, he pulled onto Route 18 and again hit the gas. The truck again fishtailed, crossing into the oncoming lane. Miller told police he continued to hit the gas pedal in an effort to regain control of the truck. The truck crossed both lanes of traffic and went over the hillside, hitting a sewer drain and two trees.

In addition to driving under the influence and racing, Miller also was charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and several traffic violations. Charges were filed at the office of District Judge Gary Havelka.