DA plans to retry case
Fayette County’s chief prosecutor said Monday his office will retry a Uniontown man for homicide by vehicle after the case ended in a mistrial last week.
Robert M. Kelley, 22, is charged in the May 2, 2009, death of Jonathan Kondrla, 16, of New Salem.
Jurors could not reach a verdict after several hours of deliberating in the matter Friday evening.
“From all signs, yes, we’re going to retry it,” District Attorney Jack R. Heneks Jr. said.
State police alleged that Kelley, the driver of a Chevrolet Cobalt in which Kondrla was a passenger, was speeding on Upper Middletown Road in Men-allen Township when the crash occurred around 11:25 p.m.
Police alleged Kelley was driving at a “high rate of speed” and did not stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Upper Middletown Road and old Route 51.
Investigators said that when the car reached the intersection, the vehicle went airborne and landed on Upper Middletown Road, where it spun out of control and crashed into a utility pole on the passenger’s side.
The impact sheared the pole, and electric wires fell onto the road, police said.
Police said Kelley had to be cut from the car, and was flown for medical treatment following the accident. Kondrla was pronounced dead at the scene around 12:50 a.m.
The county coroner’s office said he died of injuries to his head and spine.
Kelley also faces several traffic citations, including reckless driving, careless driving, speeding and failing to stop at a stop sign.