Woman convicted of homicide by vehicle
A Uniontown woman was convicted of homicide by vehicle on Friday in the 2008 death of a Georges Township man. Fayette County jurors also convicted Ashley Lynn Smith, 25, of two summary citations that related to her turning her vehicle in front of a car driven by Alan W. Smith, 46, of Haydentown.
Alan Smith, who is not related to Ashley Smith, died when she turned left in front of him on Route 857 at the intersection with Big Six Road in Georges Township around 8:30 p.m. Oct. 2, 2008.
State police Sgt. Joseph D’Andrea testified during the trial that Ashley Smith was heading north, and Alan Smith was heading south.
Assistant District Attorney Douglas Sepic had argued that the fatal collision resulted from gross negligence or recklessness on Ashley Smith’s part. Those are necessary components to rise to the level of criminal conduct as opposed to an accident.
Ashley Smith’s attorney, Thomas W. Shaffer, argued that Alan Smith’s death was a tragic accident, and not a crime.
Jurors deliberated about two hours before returning with the verdicts. Judge Steve P. Leskinen will sentence Ashley Smith at a later date.
Sheila Renaldi, who was sitting in her vehicle at a stop sign on Big Six Road at the intersection with Route 857, testified during the trial that the accident occurred right in front of her as she was waiting to make a right turn.
She testified she saw Alan Smith’s vehicle coming in the distance and was waiting for him to pass so she could pull out. Renaldi testified that he did not appear to be speeding on the stretch of road that has a 45-mph speed limit posted.
“I looked left, right, and I looked left again, and it was just there,” Renaldi said of the accident. “(Ashley Smith) had turned into him and pushed him within inches of my bumper.”
State police Cpl. Norman Gregory interviewed Ashley Smith at the hospital after the crash, and testified that she told him she couldn’t remember anything beyond leaving a nearby gas station.