Uniontown man charged in fatal hit-and-run crash
Confluence man killed while loading truck
Charges were filed Thursday morning against a Uniontown man accused of fleeing the scene of a fatal crash in Redstone Township Wednesday.
Mark Dimatteo, 66, was detained by police after people provided information identifying him and his Chevy Colorado in surveillance footage, according to the criminal complaint.
Dimatteo was driving southbound on Stone Church Road at noon Wednesday when he struck Ronald Hostetler, 62, of Confluence, who had been working with a crew paving a driveway, according to court documents.
At the time of the crash, Hostetler was loading a flatbed truck, said District Attorney Mike Aubele.
“He was legally in the roadway. He was tying down equipment, and there was a clear line of sight,” he said. “There was no adverse weather conditions, anything of that nature, and the defendant came up the road and basically hit the trailer and jumped the truck and hit Mr. Hostetler.”
Dimatteo then fled the scene, reversing course and heading northbound, the complaint said.
Hostetler was transported to WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the Fayette County coroner’s office said in a release.
Several local fire departments paid tribute to Hostetler, a member of the Confluence Fire Department.
“Ron was known in our communities for his willingness to help anyone and everyone at any given time, day or night,” the Markleysburg Henry Clay Volunteer Fire Department said in a Facebook post Wednesday night.
Six hours after the crash, Dimatteo was stopped on Route 119 in Uniontown and taken into custody, charging documents stated. His truck was impounded and stored for investigation.
A passenger was also detained for questioning. He was found to have been picked up after the incident and was released, Aubele said.
Judge Michael Defino denied Dimatteo bail on grounds of posing a continued threat to others and continued criminal activity.
Dimatteo is charged with homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death or injury while unlicensed, and driving without a valid license. Matteo’s license had been suspended in connection with an earlier driving while intoxicated charge, according to the complaint.
Dimatteo’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 2.