Damaged building in Charleroi will be taken down

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Nearly a year after a Dodge Journey SUV crashed through the foundation of an unoccupied apartment building in Charleroi, the structure will be torn down.

The driver, Charles H. Matava, 69, of Charleroi, died as a result of his injuries. His adult son, who was not identified, was a passenger in the car when Matava lost control and struck the building around 8:58 p.m. May 21.

Matava was pronounced dead a short time later in the emergency room at Monongahela Valley Hospital, according to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco. 

Charleroi fire Chief Robert Whiten Jr. said either the vehicle’s brakes malfunctioned, or the driver was unable to hit the brakes when the accident occurred. The SUV crashed and was wedged into a hole it created in the foundation of the building at the intersection of Eighth Street and Lincoln Avenue.

After the vehicle was taken from the scene, street crew workers removed part of the building’s roof and a two-story addition on the front of the building that could have been dangerous to those walking or driving by,

Since then, the house, located in the 700 block of Washington Avenue, has remained stable, said Whiten, who also serves as code enforcer, but council still wanted it torn down because of safety concerns.

To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Saturday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.