DUI Driver Kills One
Sugarcreek – An Oil City woman is dead after being hit by a DUI driver in Sugarcreek. 34-year-old Kassandra Frawley was legally passing through the intersection of Gibb Road and Allegheny Boulevard when she was struck by a DUI driver who ran a red light. Kassandra was trapped in her vehicle and severely injured, and though a fire crew was able to extract her and send her to UPMC Northwest, she died of her injuries. The driver who hit her, Ian Haux, has previous drug-related convictions; he suffered minor injuries in the crash and has been charged with homicide by vehicle. He has been taken to Venango County Jail and denied bail.
Fire Chief Steals $178k
South Greensburg – In state news, the chief of a fire department in Westmoreland County is accused of stealing nearly $200,000 from his own department over two years. A warrant for the arrest of Matthew White of the South Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department has been issued. According to authorities, White allegedly took around $178,000 from the bank accounts of his department while serving as its chief officer since 2023. They say that White put the money he took into his own personal bank accounts.
No Injuries in Rollover Crash
Geneva – A 31-year-old man somehow avoided injuries after rolling his vehicle on Interstate 79 in Crawford County. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, on Saturday morning, around 4 a.m., Michael Winger of Erie was ignoring weather-based speed limit restrictions when he crashed in Green Township. He lost control, hit a snowbank, and rolled onto the roof of his car, which stopped upside down on the shoulder of the road.
Watkins Trial Delayed Again
Sharon – The homicide trial for DaShawn Watkins has been delayed once more; it has been moved up another two months from March to May. Watkins is accused of the murder of 14-year-old Pauly Likens in June 2024, and the trial has been moved up several times since the summer of last year. On Tuesday, February 3rd, the prosecution filed a motion to end discovery, which was denied by Judge Daniel Wallace last Friday, but another extension was made. The latest trial date has jury selection beginning at 10 a.m. on May 12th.