EBENSBURG — State police said late Friday that the driver of a pickup in a Portage wreck that claimed the lives of four young adults will be charged with DUI and speeding.
Charges against James E. Gaunt, 34, of Portage will be filed Monday at the Portage office of District Judge Galen Decort, police said. Gaunt also faces an insurance count.
The major fault, police said, still lies with the driver of the Chevy Cavalier in which all four of the deceased men were riding.
“(Richard) McKrush would have faced counts of vehicular homicide, DUI and speeding had he survived,” Trooper Chad Albert said.
McKrush was driving his car in the middle of the narrow lane as he sped along Shady Spring Road in Portage Township on July 13, Albert said.
The vehicles crashed head on.
Even had Gaunt been sober, the horrific accident could not have been avoided, the trooper said.
“There was no time to react,” he said.
A fifth man in the McKrush vehicle was seriously injured.
Gaunt and passenger Bernice A. Gillette, 30, of Portage, suffered major injuries.
Another passenger in his truck, Johnny A. Lauver, 29, of Portage, sustained moderate injury.
In addition to McKrush, 22, others who died in the accident were Ryan Zunich, 26; Joseph “Gordo” Krug, 25, and Eric Secriskey, 25. All were from Portage.
Local News
Driver charged in crash
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
