A Connellsville man was arrested at his home after state police say he fled the scene of a three-vehicle crash that left one person seriously injured in Fayette County Saturday night.
State police charged Matthew David McKnight, 47, with felony aggravated assault by vehicle, misdemeanor driving under the influence, and several summary traffic offenses.
He was arraigned Sunday morning and is being held in the Fayette County Prison on $15,000 bail, according to court records.
State police responded to the crash at East End Road and Memorial Boulevard in Bullskin Township around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
According to state police, Martin Halfhill, 67, and James Blackburn, 76, both of Connellsville, were stopped in the left turn lane of Memorial Boulevard. McKnight, who was driving a pickup, entered the same lane at high speed and hit the back of Blackburn’s vehicle, pushing it forward into Halfhill’s vehicle.
Blackburn suffered severe injuries and was flown to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, where he was in critical condition, state police said.
State police said troopers found McKnight’s pickup at his nearby residence, where he was arrested. The vehicle had extensive front end damage consistent with the crash.
McKnight is the assistant director of operations for Fayette Emergency Medical Services. He was immediately put on suspension, Chief Rick Adobato said.
McKnight did not have an attorney listed in court records.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 27.