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Man charged in fatal crash

By Patty Shultz 2 min read

PERRYOPOLIS – A Monongahela man charged in the fatal death of a West Newton teen, faces a Wednesday preliminary hearing in the matter. Robert Bobin, 49, of 110 Howard St., is charged with vehicular homicide stemming from an April 3 collision along Route 51 that claimed the life of James P. Stokes.

According to the affidavit filed by police with District Justice Michael Rubish, Bobin was traveling in the southbound lane when his vehicle crossed into the northbound lane and struck the vehicle being driven by Stokes.

Stokes, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bobin, said police, was unconscious and had to be cut from the vehicle. He was transported to Uniontown Hospital and then taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown for treatment.

Police said Bobin was enroute to a Uniontown methadone clinic when the accident took place and that test results indicated that Benzodiazephine, a sedative, was in his system.

Police said that investigating officers learned from Bobin’s wife that he had been having problems with a recently prescribed medication that caused him to become confused and experience seizures. Additionally, he had been diagnosed as having first stage dementia, said police.

According to the affidavit, a review of medical records from Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic indicated an evaluation of Bobin three weeks prior to the accident diagnosed him with suffering from symptoms of impaired concentration or memory.

Bobin was arraigned by Rubish and set free on a $25,000 unsecured bond.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

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