A 35-year-old Pennsylvania trooper must stand trial for wrongful death resulting from a fatal car accident that took the life of a 21-year-old man. The trooper is charged with DUI, involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide. He is free on $2,500 bond.

The accused was on a steelhead trout fishing trip in Erie County when he allegedly stopped for a meal and four beers at a pub. He left the pub around 10:00 p.m. to go back to his hotel room. Instead of driving west to his hotel, he drove east and crashed into the accident victim's Chevrolet Blazer.

The driver of the Blazer died of multiple traumatic injuries. Accident investigators determined that he had tried to move his car out of the way after the trooper's vehicle crossed the centerline into his lane. His family and friends attended the hearing where a Union County District Judge ordered the trooper held for trial.

The trooper's blood-alcohol content measured 0.13 percent approximately three hours after the car crash. The legal limit for drivers in Pennsylvania is 0.08 percent. The blood test will not automatically be admissible in the case because it was taken more than two hours after the impact. In addition to the blood test, the trooper reportedly administered a blood test to himself and swore when he read the results.

Witnesses at the scene said he did not seem to be visibly intoxicated after the crash. As soon as emergency responders learned that an off-duty trooper was involved in the accident, they turned the investigation over to supervisors from Corry and Lawrence Park Township.

This unfortunate incident illustrates the importance of not driving when you have been drinking. Surely the family of the deceased man wishes the trooper had made a different decision about driving.

Source: Erie Times-News,"Trooper accused in Erie County fatal DUI faces trial," Lisa Thompson, May 8, 2012