Oct 31, 2002 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

Fayette County Coroner jurors ruled that the Nov. 18, 2001, car accident that killed Emerson David Snyder was avoidable, caused in part by his alcohol intoxication. Jurors also factored in Snyder’s lack of a seat belt and his failure to stop at a red light as contributing factors in the accident and said that Eric Loring, the driver of the vehicle Snyder hit, was in no way responsible for the crash.

State police Cpl. Joseph D’Andrea, who reconstructed the 3:11 a.m. accident, said that, had be been wearing his seat belt, Snyder may have only suffered minor injuries, and likely would have been alive today.

According to testimony, Snyder ran a red light at the intersection of Route 21 and Leckrone Highhouse Road and hit into a car driven by Loring.

Loring and his passengers, Brandee Krysak and Stephanie A. Guthrie, each testified that they saw Snyder’s headlights, but only in the split second before the accident happened. Loring testified he was knocked unconscious by the impact. He and the other passengers were not badly hurt.

Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly said that toxicology tests showed that Snyder’s blood-alcohol was .207 percent. The legal limit for driving in Pennsylvania is .10 percent.

D’Andrea estimated that at the time of the accident, Snyder was driving between 29 and 37 mph while Loring was going between 45 and 48 mph. The speed limit in that area is 45 mph said D’Andrea.

The accident was investigated by trooper Craig Spisak.