May 2, 2002 By Amy Karpinsky 4 min read

A 71-year-old Connellsville man will face trial in Fayette County Court on charges that allege he was driving drunk and recklessly when he crashed into the rear of another vehicle and killed a Connellsville woman. Charles E. LaPorte of 211 Frisbee Ave. is facing charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence and reckless driving for the Feb. 28 accident that killed Carla Jean Primus, 39, of 607 S. 12th St.

The case was sent to court following a preliminary hearing Wednesday morning before Connellsville District Justice Ronald J. Haggerty Sr.

LaPorte sat quietly during the hearing with his hands crossed on his lap.

The charges stemmed from an accident that occurred at 4:08 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the intersection of Route 119 (Morrell Avenue) and Duke Street in Connellsville. Carla Primus was a passenger in a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am driven by her husband, Jeffrey Primus, 36. Police allege that LaPorte’s black 1990 Ford F-150 struck the rear of the Primus vehicle as it was slowing to make a left turn.

Jeffrey Primus was not called to testify, but both Assistant District Attorney Mark D. Brooks and defense attorney Thomas A. Bowlen agreed upon what Primus would testify. Brooks said Primus would testify that on Feb. 28, he was traveling north on Route 119 in the left lane and was preparing to turn left onto Duke Street. Brooks continued to say that Primus had his turn signal on and his wife was a passenger in the vehicle and while slowing to turn, a vehicle hit him from behind and his wife was killed as a result of the impact.

Connellsville City Firefighter Dennis Petrowski testified that he saw the accident when he and his wife were driving home from work. Under questioning by Brooks, Petrowski said he was stopped at the intersection of Duke Street and Morrell Avenue when he saw a vehicle in the passing lane with its turn signal flashing. He said after looking to his left, he looked back and saw a black vehicle come out of the slow lane and into the passing lane and hit the vehicle preparing to turn from behind.

Petrowski said it was a “pretty violent collision.” He said he didn’t hear any skidding of tires or blowing of horns. He said the struck car went up over the curb, into a utility pole across Duke Avenue and did a 180-degree turn and was facing up the hill. He said the black vehicle continued on Morrell Avenue.

Connellsville City Police Sgt. Michael Parlak testified that he arrived at the accident scene at 4:15 p.m. and found the Primus vehicle in a yard at 832 Morrell Ave. He said there was a “splash of debris in the road” before and after the intersection and the Primus vehicle had severe rear-end damage. Parlak said he saw Carla Primus in the back seat of the vehicle and was informed moments later that she was dead. Jeffrey Primus suffered minor injuries in the accident.

Parlak said he later found LaPorte inside his truck down Morrell Avenue, pulled off on Leisenring Street. He said the doors on the truck were jammed shut. After another officer took LaPorte to the police station, Parlak said he interviewed him and noticed that he smelled like he had been drinking. Parlak said the LaPorte had trouble finding his identification and after standing to perform a sobriety test, declined by saying that he had severe arthritis.

Based upon his 17 years of experience as a police officer, Parlak said he believed LaPorte was under the influence of alcohol during the interview. Parlak said LaPorte told him the truck shut down after impact and drifted to a stop and admitted that he had been drinking beer.

The results of a blood alcohol concentration test revealed that LaPorte had a BAC level of .14 percent. The legal limit is .10 percent.

Parlak read a report done by state police accident reconstructionalist Cpl. Joseph D’Andrea that stated LaPorte was traveling between 52 and 57 mph at the time of the crash. Parlak said the speed limit at the accident site is 35 mph.

Upon questioning by Bowlen, Parlak said he later learned that the fuel line on LaPorte’s vehicle likely shut off and prevented him from stopping at the crash scene.

Bowlen didn’t make any closing remarks, but asked Haggerty to continue bond for LaPorte. Haggerty then said there wasn’t any bond and set it at $50,000 unsecured for LaPorte, which means he will remain free without paying any bond unless he misses a court appearance.