Connellsville man charged with 3rd-degree murder in fatal October crash in Dunbar
State police issued an arrest warrant Monday for a Connellsville man who was allegedly driving under the influence of a controlled substance when he hit a man on a small motorcycle Oct. 10, causing fatal injuries.
Jeffrey R. Ranker, 52, of Johnson Lane was driving a Chevrolet Silverado when he reportedly hit a Suzuki scooter ridden by John Anthony Canada at the intersection of University Drive and Industrial Park Drive at about 6 a.m. Canada, 69, of Dunbar was pronounced dead on the scene by the Fayette County Coroner’s Office.
Canada was stopped in the turning lane at a red light, preparing to turn left onto Mount Braddock Road when Ranker, who was traveling southbound, reportedly drifted out of his lane and hit the motorcycle. Ranker admitted to police on the scene he traveled out of his lane, according to court documents.
Canada was unresponsive when police arrived.
Ranker was taken into custody after failing field sobriety tests. During a police interview, he appeared to be under the influence of narcotic painkillers, according to court documents.
He agreed to a blood draw, which tested positive for amphetamines, buprenorphine and norbupenorphine.
Ranker was driving with a suspended license, police said. He reportedly hit Canada’s vehicle driving 63 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour zone.
He is charged with murder of the third degree, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, accident involving death or personal injury, recklessly endangering another person, two counts of DUI and several traffic citations.
Charges were filed Monday before Fayette County Magisterial District Judge Nathan A. Henning.