A man is facing homicide by vehicle and DUI charges after two people — a Sandy Lake resident who taught at Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District and a Butler man — were killed Wednesday morning, Aug. 12, in a three-vehicle crash.

A vehicle driven by Aric D. Abrams, 47, of Clarks Mills, sideswiped the A-C Valley teacher’s vehicle, causing a head-on collision between the teacher’s vehicle and another along Sandy Lake Grove City Road in Worth Township, Mercer County, according to police.

The teacher, Sandra Marwick, 68, and the Butler man, Luke R. Mulford, 29, died in the crash. Mercer County Coroner John A. Libonati said the cause of death for both was blunt force trauma and the manner of death was homicide.

A-C Valley superintendent David McDeavitt said Marwick was driving to work when the crash occurred. Marwick had taught English for three years at the Western Secure Treatment Unit in Emlenton, a 48-bed, all-female secure facility that provides services and education to adjudicated youth.

“It is a very sad and unfortunate situation,” McDeavitt said.

He described Marwick as a “wonderful educator” who was one of the first A-C Valley teachers to volunteer for the treatment unit where the school district has been facilitating the educational programs for about three years.

Police said a 1994 Pontiac Firebird driven by Abrams was heading northbound in the area of 2239 Sandy Lake Grove City Road when the vehicle drifted into the opposing lane of traffic, sideswiping the 2017 Jeep Renegade driven by Marwick. The crash was reported at 7:44 a.m.

The impact caused Marwick to lose control of the vehicle, drift into the opposing lane and strike Mulford’s 2007 Audi A4, which was driving northbound, head-on.

Marwick and Mulford both died at the scene of the crash.

Abrams was charged Wednesday with two felony counts each of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and homicide by vehicle, misdemeanor driving under the influence and four summary traffic violations.

According to police, a witness who was driving behind Mulford relayed the details of the crash to police. The witness said she observed Abrams failing to maintain his lane of traffic and in the other lane of travel at points while driving behind his vehicle.

Police said Abrams indicated to officers he had used cocaine two days prior and drank alcohol the night before, but he refused to submit to a blood test.

His preliminary hearing is set for 10 a.m. on Aug. 26 before District Judge Douglas E. Straub.

McDeavitt said Marwick had seen about 22 graduates in her time teaching students grades nine through 12 at the treatment unit, which accepts adjudicated girls ages 13-20.

A-C Valley administers the education, while Rite of Passage, a nonprofit that helps at-risk youth, manages the residential program.

McDeavitt announced Marwick’s death in a Thursday morning Facebook post.

“She was a dedicated educator who made a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and colleagues,” he said.