Carmichaels man sentenced to prison for Fayette crash that killed W.Va. father, son
Dylan Patrick Healey buried his face in his hands and sobbed moments before he was sentenced to serve time in a state prison for the wrong-way DUI crash that killed a West Virginia father and son near Uniontown in 2022.
“I never intended to hurt anyone that night, and everything that happened was truly an accident,” Healey said while apologizing to the family. “I understand the severity of my actions, and I’m sincerely sorry.”
Healey, who pleaded guilty July 8 to two counts of homicide by vehicle while DUI and other charges, appeared Thursday morning in Fayette County Court of Common Pleas and was sentenced by Judge Linda Cordaro to serve 6 to 12 years in prison for the crash that killed Brian Gilchrist, 41, and his 18-year-old son, Joshua.
Healey, 27, of Carmichaels, was driving the wrong way on Route 40 near Morgantown Road in South Union Township in the early hours of Feb. 20, 2022, when he crashed into the vehicle carrying the father and son, who were heading back home to West Virginia from a concert in Pittsburgh. Healey’s vehicle caught fire, and he was able to escape with only minor injuries. Brian and Joshua Gilchrist, both of Petersburg, W.Va., died at the scene.
Investigators said Healey admitted to them that he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day, and tests showed he had a blood-alcohol level of .207% at the time of the crash, more than double the legal limit to drive. It’s not known where Healey was coming from or how he entered the highway heading the wrong direction.
Sueann May, who lost her husband and son in the crash, gave a victim impact statement in court about how their deaths have affected her and the whole family.
“I just want that guy right there to understand what he took away from me, which was a lot,” May said looking toward Healey. “Because I can’t get back what I lost, but he’s got a chance to make things right so it never happens again. … Josh was an amazing kid. He impacted so many people.”
After the hearing, May said she listened to Healey’s comments, but was not yet ready to forgive him yet. May added that while she accepts the punishment levied against Healey, she does not think the mandatory prison sentence is enough time.
Joshua’s friend, Kasanndra Berg, also gave a statement and said that she was supposed to go to the Marina And The Diamonds concert with them that night at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, but a last-minute illness forced her to stay home. Berg said Brian Gilchrist, who she noted would do anything for her if she needed it, had agreed to drive them to the concert since she was worried about navigating the city. Her last communication with Joshua was a text message he sent her of photos from the concert.
“That pain is a weight I carry every day,” Berg said. “I think of Josh every day.”
She explained how Joshua was a member of the marching band and was set to graduate from high school that summer. Berg, who is a couple of years older than Joshua, said she made a cap and gown for his family and gave it to them the night of the high school commencement where an empty chair was left for him.
“I just wonder if your night of fun was truly worth it,” Berg said to Healey.
Before handing down the mandatory sentence, Cordaro told Healey that the victim impact statements showed the pain he caused the Gilchrist family, which was gathered in the courtroom gallery.
“These are always difficult situations for both sides. … I certainly sympathize with your loss,” Cordaro said to the family before turning toward Healey. “There’s no better way for you to realize the impact of your actions than their words.”
Cordaro noted that Healey is still relatively young and had letters of support from a group home where he’s been working to help adults with intellectual disabilities.
“It seems like you have a lot to offer society,” Cordaro said. “But you do have to pay a debt.”
Healey was immediately handcuffed by sheriff’s deputies following the sentencing hearing and taken to the Fayette County jail, where he’ll await transfer to a state prison. He will be given credit for seven days that he spent in the Fayette County jail after being charged in May 2022 before being released on unsecured bond a week later.