McKeesport man going to prison for driving drunk, hitting PennDOT worker in construction zone

A McKeesport man is headed to prison for up to seven years for drinking an alcoholic slushee and smoking marijuana in his car shortly before he struck a PennDOT worker in a construction zone and dragged her 30 feet on the city’s Jerome Street Bridge.

Common Pleas Judge Kelly Bigley sentenced Harry B. Hobson, 51, on Wednesday to 3½ to 7 years in prison, court records show. Michael J. Deriso, who represents Hobson, didn’t return a call Thursday seeking comment.

Hobson was charged June 5, 2022 by McKeesport police with 23 criminal charges, including a felony count of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, 15 counts of recklessly endangering another person, and five different DUI counts, court records show.

He pleaded guilty last September to aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, DUI for a combination of alcohol and drugs, and reckless driving, court records show. Prosecutors withdrew the other charges.

Hobson was driving his wife’s black Cadillac near a Jerome Street Bridge construction site at about 12:30 a.m. June 5, 2022 when he sideswiped a trailer, according to the criminal complaint against him.

Hobson drove into the opposite lane, striking a Ford Super-Duty truck’s bumper, and then hit PennDOT worker Natalie Paul, dragging her about 30 feet, the complaint said. He came to a stop when he crashed into the side of the bridge, where construction work was taking place.

Police said Hobson had bloodshot eyes that night and his breath smelled of alcohol. “A strong odor of burnt marijuana” also emanated from the driver, the complaint said.

Hobson admitted to having an alcoholic slushee, which officers found — with some slushee remaining, still cold to the touch — in the Cadillac’s center console, the complaint said.

Next to the ash tray, an officer also found a small marijuana blunt, still smoking.

An ambulance took Paul, the injured PennDOT worker, to UPMC Mercy hospital, where she was treated for a broken leg and a broken hip. She later required orthopedic surgery.

State law says any driver who causes “serious bodily injury” to a worker in a construction zone, upon conviction, faces a fine of “not more than $5,000.”

PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan declined to comment Thursday.

A second worker, Scott Hart, injured his knee when he tried to avoid Hobson’s car, the complaint said.

A total of 13 workers at the construction zone ran or jumped away to avoid the vehicle.