Driver charged with homicide by vehicle in fatal crash

The crash took place March 14 in Jefferson Hills.

A Jefferson Hills man accused of killing a motorcyclist while driving drunk in the borough earlier this year has been charged with homicide by vehicle.

William Haughey Jr., 42, is facing a slew of charges relating to the March 14 accident that took the life of John Wobrak, 59.

A warrant for Haughey’s arrest was issued Wednesday.

He is being charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, two counts of DUI, driving on the wrong side of the road, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving, reckless driving and a handful of other minor traffic violations.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Jefferson Hills police were called to the scene of an accident near 2023 Scotia Hollow Road around 1:30 p.m.

When they arrived on scene a female was performing CPR on Wobrak as Haughey stood nearby and identified himself as the other driver involved.

Medical personnel were called to the scene and took over life-saving measures, but Wobrak died after about 20 minutes.

Haughey was driving his Jeep near Ridge Road when he crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and hit Wobrak head on, an affidavit states.

When questioned by police at the scene, officers say Haughey was vague and only told police he was coming from West Elizabeth, but would not say where.

Police say Haughey was stumbling as officers questioned him and responded vaguely with muffled words.

He wouldn’t tell officers where he was coming from prior to the crash, only that he had been in West Elizabeth and was heading home, about 700 yards from where the accident occurred.

Haughey told police he had not been drinking, despite officers smelling alcohol and coffee on his breath.

He refused standard field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test, both at the scene and after being taken to the police station, an affidavit states.

Haughey also declined a blood test.

Officers concluded Haughey had consumed/used a “sufficient amount” of drugs or alcohol and he was unfit to drive.

Police canvassed bars in West Elizabeth and confirmed Haughey had been drinking at Beer Belly’s after speaking with the bartender on duty and reviewing surveillance video.

Haughey had three vodka sodas in about an hour while at the bar, an affidavit states.

The accident was called into 911 about three minutes after he had left the establishment.

Data secured from his Jeep show he was driving a little over 55 miles per hour at the time of the crash, and that his brakes were not deployed prior to impact.

Instead, there was a gradual increase of the accelerator, peaking at 100% .3 seconds before the crash.

According to police, Haughey was driving between 39 and 44 MPH at the time of impact, and his blood alcohol content was 0.142%.

A preliminary hearing has not been set.