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Uniontown man involved in accident with Perryopolis officer has died

By Olivia Goudy ogoudy@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read
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A Uniontown man who was involved in the car accident that killed a Perryopolis police officer last week, died Friday.

Andrew V. Bohatch, 59, died in the UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital in Oakland on Friday afternoon. He had been in critical condition after sustaining major injuries during the Dec. 14 accident on Route 51.

Police said Bohatch, who was driving northbound on Route 51, was turning into the parking lot of the Big Red Barn, neat Star Junction, when he collided with the police cruiser of Officer Richard Champion. Police said Champion had his emergency lights and siren on and was pursuing a car that was speeding going southbound. After the collision, Champion’s cruiser caught fire, and nearby witnesses were unable to put the fire out.

Champion, 35, died of blunt force injuries. He was laid to rest on Friday after a funeral service at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ligonier.

Bohatch, a 1973 graduate of Frazier High School, is survived by his fiance of 27 years, Loretta Porreca Vernon. Funeral arrangements were made with the Kezmarsky Funeral Home, where a viewing will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on Monday.

There will also be a funeral Mass at 9 a.m. on Tuesday in the Saint Therese de Lisieux Roman Catholic Church, where he was also a member.

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