Local News
Driver waives hearing on vehicular homicide
LIGONIER — A Westmoreland County man will stand trial for vehicular homicide and related charges stemming from a three-vehicle wreck that killed a North Star High School student.
Brandon G. Behie, 24, of New Florence, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday before District Judge Denise Thiel of Ligonier.
Ligonier Township police said Behie was driving a pickup that plowed into the back of a Chevrolet Lumina that was stopped at a traffic light March 28.
The crashed killed 15-year-old John Austin Blough of Hollsopple.
Blough, who was a rear-seat passenger in the Lumina, died at the scene of blunt force trauma to the head and chest.
“It’s been devastating for the family,” said John M. Daley, a Pittsburgh attorney representing the boy’s family in a civil lawsuit.
“The holidays are coming up and they don’t have a son.”
Named with Behie as defendants in the wrongful death suit are Bull’s Tavern and Ligonier Beach Restaurant & Lounge, both in Ligonier.
Behie also was charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle, DUI, general impairment, simple assault, reckless endangerment and a rash of traffic violations.
The Lumina, carrying several students returning from a Britney Spears concert in Pittsburgh, was behind a Pontiac Grand Prix that stopped at a red light on U.S. Route 30 in Laughlintown shortly after 1:30 a.m.
Behie’s Chevrolet Silverado slammed into the Lumina, pushing it into the Grand Prix, driven by Rebecca Weimer of Boswell. She was not injured.
Authorities said Behie was driving at least 32 mph in a 20 mph zone. Police said he admitted he had been drinking.
His blood-alcohol content was 0.189 percent, police said.
That’s more than double the state’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Behie remains free on bond.
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