3 injured in crash
Three people were seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash Sunday night at the north junction of Interstates 70 and 79 in South Strabane Township.
State police said a SUV driven by James P. Frameli, 29, of Washington, who was under the influence of heroin and alcohol, was traveling south on Interstate 79 at a high speed at the junction. It went off the road and through the median, striking a vehicle traveling west on Interstate 70 driven by Herbert Gantt, 41. Frameli’s vehicle then rolled several times.
Frameli was severely injured, as were passengers Kelly J. Ciaffoni, 34, and James Efaw. Police said both passengers also admitted to using heroin and alcohol. South Strabane fire Chief Scott Reese said two of the injured were flown to Pittsburgh hospitals from a landing zone set up by firefighters at the north junction. The third person was taken by ambulance to a Pittsburgh hospital. Gantt was taken by private vehicle to Washington Hospital, where he was treated and released.
State police filed DUI charges against Frameli with District Judge Jay Weller.