Jackson woman faces possible trial for DUI
EVANS CITY — A woman is headed for possible trial on felony and other charges for allegedly causing a crash in Jackson Township while she was nearly three times the legal limit for alcohol.
The suspect, Kasey V. Glass, 37, of Jackson Township, was driving to Seneca Valley High School with her 14-year-old daughter about 9 a.m. Dec. 12 when she lost control of her pickup truck and crossed into oncoming traffic, according to Jackson police.
The pickup collided with a sport utility vehicle at Mercer and Little Creek roads. The other driver, Scott A. Johnston, ended up in the hospital with a fractured collarbone, a half dozen broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Glass, who suffered minor injuries in the wreck, waived her preliminary hearing Tuesday at the office of District Judge Wayne Seibel in Evans City.
She faces a top count of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, a second-degree felony. A conviction on that charge in Pennsylvania carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The defendant also is charged with child endangerment, DUI, careless driving and not wearing a seat belt.
Police said when they got to the crash they suspected Glass was intoxicated. She smelled of alcohol and her speech was slurred.
She told investigators that she was taking her child to a Saturday school activity “but missed the turn for Seneca School Road,” documents said.
Johnston was taken by ambulance to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment of his injuries. Glass refused treatment. Her daughter was not hurt.
The suspect initially admitted she had been drinking that day but did not know how much, police said. Later, she claimed she last consumed alcohol the previous night.
Police arrested Glass after she failed three field sobriety tests. A blood test subsequently showed her blood-alcohol level was 0.234 percent. A level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated under state law.
Glass remains free on nonmonetary bail. Her attorney, Cori Dunn of Zelienople, refused comment after Tuesday’s court proceedings.
