The cost of pretrial supervision is too expensive, a Fairview Township man accused of injuring a woman last year while driving drunk claimed Monday during a court hearing.

On Monday, Benjamin Sinz testified that the cost of being on a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor, an alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet, is too much of a financial burden.

Sinz, 25, argued through his private attorney, Michael Zunder, that he makes about $2,000 a month working as a fitter for a gas company. With more than $1,000 in expenses, Sinz said, the $426 a month that he has to pay for the supervision bracelet is too expensive.

Zunder noted that Sinz has been on pretrial supervision for 15 months since his arrest on Dec. 17, 2018, costing Sinz a total of about $6,000.

Judge Timothy McCune, who presided over Monday's hearing, denied the motion, keeping Sinz under the government's eye.

“Somebody who has private counsel, but they say they can't afford bond conditions, I'd have to hear some pretty strong evidence,” McCune said on July 1 during a previous bond hearing that was rescheduled.

During the hearing, Zunder made the case for his client by noting Sinz's behavior during the past year, pointing out that Sinz has had no violations during his supervision, and has attended drug and alcohol treatment.

Sinz, a graduate of Penn State, has an engineering degree in petroleum and natural gas, but after the crash he lost his job in the field.

State police said they were called on the morning of Feb. 17, 2018, for a crash near Hummingbird Plaza. Troopers found Sinz's overturned pickup truck in the middle of the road.

Tire and road markings, according to court documents, indicated that the truck caused a collision with another vehicle. Police said they also noticed open bottles of alcoholic beverages in the truck.

The other driver, Terri Saylor, suffered serious injuries, including broken bones and internal bleeding, documents said. A medical helicopter flew her to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh.

Sinz submitted to a blood draw, documents said, which showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.171 percent. In Pennsylvania, a level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated.

Sinz faces charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, a felony, as well as DUI and several traffic violations.

On Monday, Assistant District Attorney Teri Schultz asked Sinz if he did anything to maintain his sobriety, such as attend Alcoholics Anonymous. Sinz said he did not.

Instead, Sinz said, “I do a lot of fishing.”