CONNOQUNESSING TWP — A Butler man was driving under the influence when his vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in the 100 block of Harmony Road on Wednesday, July 30, according to state police.

Robert D. Pflugh, 58, is expected to be charged with vehicular homicide while driving under the influence, as well as driving under the influence, police said in a Wednesday news release.

Donald B. Phipps, 65, was killed in the crash, reported at around 11:30 a.m. Police said he was standing in his driveway at the time of the crash.

Police said a 2006 Saturn Ion driven by Pflugh of Butler was traveling east on Harmony Road when he crossed into another travel lane. The vehicle struck a mailbox, then continued until it struck Phipps.

Phipps died at the scene.

Police later discovered that Pflugh was driving while intoxicated. He was arrested and placed in the Butler County Prison.

Crews from the Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company were conducting a post-incident cleanup before departing and fully opening up the road around 6 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Phipps was described by neighbors as a hardworking individual who would always lend a hand to those in need.

“He just always helped you out,” said Ronni Hall, a neighbor who knew Phipps and his family for more than two decades. “He was a gearhead like my dad and I, and my dad knew him. My dad was just supposed to fix his truck for him this week. If I needed anything or I called him for anything, he would always be here. He’d always check in and just make everybody else was OK.”

She also said that all of the neighbors who lived close by were familiar and friendly with each other, noting the incident was a senseless tragedy.

“Something like this just shouldn’t happen here,” she said. “My son’s going to miss watching his truck go by and hearing him (Phipps) beep the horn.”

According to neighbors, Phipps was a longtime driver for McClymonds Supply & Transit, a trucking company based out of Portersville.