Man Who Killed Woman While DUI Faces New Charges
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LOWER BURRELL (KDKA) - Police in Lower Burrell filed additional charges against a man who killed a woman who was in the back of his truck when he was driving drunk.
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Michele Kerr, 49, began the night of Oct. 6, 2017, with drinks, but ended it with a domestic argument and her death at the intersection of Wild Life Lodge Road and State Route 56 in Lower Burrell.
According to investigators, James Jenniches was drunk behind the wheel of his Chevy S-10 pickup truck, when after getting into an argument, drove away from the American Legion in Lower Burrell.
Kerr jumped on to the back of the truck only to fall off it as Jenniches sped away. Injuries from the fall killed the mother of three.
Jenniches was arrested and charged with DUI.
Today, Lower Burrell Police added homicide while driving under the influence to the list of charges against Jenniches.
Court records show that while he stayed to pull the victim off the road, when police arrived Jenniches refused to take a field sobriety or blood test. Eventually, a blood test was conducted, which showed that he was intoxicated.
Turns out this was not the first DUI for Jenniches.
Records show that Jenniches has not had a valid Pennsylvania driver's license since August 1991 and was convicted two times for DUI.
Jenniches' driver's license was actually suspended by the state until the year 2025.
Initially freed after the fatal accident, Jenniches is now being held in the Westmoreland County Jail with the new homicide by DUI charges. Jenniches is being held with a $30,000 straight cash bond.