Teen Driver In Fatal I-79 Crash To Stand Trial
WASHINGTON (KDKA) -- Police say a local teenager was out of control and speeding when she caused a fatal crash on Interstate 79 in North Strabane.
Stormy Hunter, 18, has been ordered to stand trial.
A state trooper testified that Hunter was driving at up to 92 miles per hour at impact.
"Speed and alcohol have deadly consequences," Michael Lucas, the prosecutor, said.
Nickolas Mercolini, 65, and Alex Mercolini, 78, both of Pittsburgh, were killed in the February crash. Their wives were with them and survived the accident, but they were hospitalized for weeks.
Police testified Hunter smelled of alcohol at the scene and that she claimed beer spilled on herself at a WVU party. Police say her blood alcohol level was .064. The legal limit for her age is .02.
The defense says the victims were not wearing seatbelts.
"That's a caution to every juvenile out there," Dan Hargrove, the defense attorney, said. "No matter how low your alcohol level is, it's a zero tolerance and it doesn't appear to be alcohol was a significant or contributing cause. It looks like it was seatbelts and the speed and my client is so upset and distraught there was any loss of human life."
The victims' brother had few words.
"I just think justice will be served – one way or another it will be served," he told KDKA-TV.
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