Connellsville woman charged in man’s 2015 death
Charges were filed against a Connellsville woman for a vehicle accident that caused the death of her passenger while she was driving with a learner’s permit.
Crystal Marie Johns, 31, of 118 N. 1st Street was arraigned on charges of accident involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed, drivers required to be licensed and driving on roadways laned for traffic before Magisterial District Judge Richard Kasunic II on Thursday.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Johns was driving along West Crawford Avenue in Dunbar Township at 9:06 a.m. Nov. 16, 2015, when her vehicle struck the side of another vehicle near Brookevale Street.
Johns’ passenger, Richard O’Nell, 45, of Connellsville was pronounced dead at the scene, and Johns was unresponsive when emergency personnel arrived.
She was extricated from her vehicle and air lifted to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the other vehicle, Everett Thomas, 29, of Connellsville, sustained minor injuries.
After troopers interviewed Johns in the hospital, she admitted she was operating the vehicle and reportedly said she was heading to her home when the collision occurred.
In their investigation, police found that Johns only possessed a learner’s driving permit and was required by law to be accompanied and under direct supervision of someone properly licensed to operate a vehicle while she drove.
O’Nell, the only passenger in Johns’ car, possessed a Pennsylvania identification card and was not properly licensed to drive, police said.
Johns is free on $50,000 unsecured bond.
Her preliminary hearing has been scheduled at 1:30 p.m. April 19 before Kasunic.