Man charged in Neshannock runner’s dying

Feb. 7—A person who was driving a automotive that struck a operating pedestrian early Dec. 23 in Neshannock Township has been charged with murder by automobile.

Zachary Lee Patrick, 32, of Cochran Drive, is needed by the police in reference to the accident that occurred at 4:45 a.m. on Wilmington Highway, claiming the lifetime of 67-year-old David Roger Chiafullo of Greentree Circle, Neshannock.

An avid jogger, Chiafullo had been out for his traditional early morning run and sometimes had adopted the identical routes, in response to individuals who knew him.

Based on a felony criticism that police filed towards Patrick, an officer responded to a name a few man mendacity on the highway bleeding from a head damage. The officer arrived to search out Chiafullo being handled by an off-duty nurse. Police noticed a crashed crimson Ford Taurus about 70 yards away that had extreme front-end injury and was on an embankment on Dunkin’ Donuts property, they reported.

The officer walked across the automotive and noticed a bag of marijuana subsequent to the automotive, the report mentioned.

Chiafullo was taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth’s Youngstown Hospital, the place he died from his accidents.

In the meantime, a person who recognized himself as Patrick approached the police and mentioned he was the driving force of the automotive and did not know he had hit anybody, the report mentioned. The police mentioned Patrick admitted to them that he had been smoking marijuana earlier. He submitted to a blood check on the hospital, the report mentioned, and the outcomes confirmed ranges of THC, the first psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana, in his blood. The police additionally decided that Patrick was driving with a suspended license.

Police mentioned Patrick had did not name 911 and inform police he had been in an accident.

Officers obtained a surveillance video of the accident space that confirmed Chiafullo jogging north on Wilmington Highway at 4:43 a.m. when Patrick’s northbound automotive crossed the middle turning lane and into the oncoming visitors lane, hitting Chiafullo. His automotive drove by means of the lot of Preston Motors earlier than the left passenger aspect of his automotive struck Chiafullo, then he continued driving and hit a hearth hydrant and entered the Dunkin’ lot, damaging it, the report mentioned. Patrick then left the accident scene, did not render support and didn’t notify the police, the criticism states.

Story continues

A state police accident reconstruction crew investigated how the accident had occurred.

Along with the murder by automobile cost, Patrick is dealing with costs of driving underneath the affect, accidents involving injury to property, obligation to offer info or render support, reckless driving, careless drivig, driving whereas his license is suspended, driving on the incorrect lane of visitors, driving on the appropriate aspect of the highway and accidents involving dying whereas not correctly licensed.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Suspects are thought of harmless till confirmed responsible or adjudicated in court docket.

[email protected]

[email protected]