Mother, stepfather of crash victim accused of providing beer to teen driver
The mother and stepfather of a Chartiers Township woman critically injured in a Christmas Day crash in Chartiers have been charged by township police with furnishing beer to the teenage driver who was behind the wheel of the vehicle that wrecked.
Amy M. Holmes, 39, of 228 Parker St., Houston, and Melvin Guy Holmes Jr., 39, of 550 McClane Farm Road, Chartiers, were charged Wednesday with furnishing alcohol to a minor and corruption of minors.
Holmes’ 21-year-old daughter, Corey Mitchell, was a passenger in a car driven by Holden Alexander, 17, of Houston, when it crashed about 9 p.m. on Christmas. Alexander was driving north on Route 519 (Western Avenue) near the ATI Allegheny Ludlum plant when the vehicle went off the road, hit a utility pole near the plant entrance, flipped and landed on its roof.
Alexander was trapped in the vehicle. Mitchell was ejected. Both were flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment.
Court documents filed at the office of District Judge David Mark indicate that Alexander’s blood-alcohol content was 0.111 percent, more than five times the 0.02 limit at which intoxication is presumed in drivers under the age of 21. Also found in the wrecked vehicle were cans of Yuengling beer, police said. Alexander is facing unspecified charges in Wahington County juvenile court.
Police said they were made aware the two defendants knowingly furnished Alexander beer during the family’s Christmas celebration held at the home on McClane Farm Road. There also reportedly was a photograph posted on Facebook that showed the 17-year-old with cans of Yuengling.
Mitchell is being treated at home, receiving physical and occupational therapy.
Police Chief James Horvath said the incident is a tragedy all the way around.
“I understand that people want to have a good time at the holidays, but you have to be responsible,” Horvath said. “Two families have been affected by this.”
Charges will be sent by summons from the Mark’s office. A preliminary hearing is set for June 1 before Mark.