Blair Co., PA (WJAC) — Authorities in Blair County say an Altoona man was arraigned last week on charges related to a deadly DUI crash that occurred last March.
Police say on the night of March 16, officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of Broad Avenue Alley for reports of a single-vehicle crash.
Authorities say the driver, later identified as 43-year-old William Tremmel, had reportedly crashed into a concrete barrier located in the alleyway.
Police say the front seat passenger of the vehicle, identified as Jeffery Berryman, was found unresponsive at the scene and was transported to UPMC Altoona.
Investigators say the victim was then transported to UPMC Presbyterian, in Pittsburgh, where he was listed in critical condition.
Upon further investigation at the scene, police say officers observed Tremmel to be intoxicated, at which time he reportedly admitted to drinking at a nearby bar earlier that evening.
Police say Tremmel also claimed that he had been "cut off" by another vehicle, causing him to lose control and crash into the alleyway.
Officers say a field sobriety test was conducted, and a breathalyzer test confirmed that Tremmel was intoxicated.
According to the affidavit, police say Tremmel was placed into custody and officers began searching his vehicle, at which time they reportedly located evidence of marijuana use "in plain view."
Authorities say Tremmel allegedly denied any marijuana use and was transported to UPMC Altoona for a blood draw.
During the initial investigation, police say an officer also recovered a case of beer that had been discarded near the crash scene, as well as evidence of an operational dash camera inside the vehicle.
Investigators say upon reviewing the dash cam footage, the video reportedly showed Tremmel being "unable to keep his vehicle in the lane of travel" and a near collision with another vehicle when attempting to make a turn.
Police say at the time of the crash, the dash cam footage also reportedly showed that there was no oncoming traffic as Tremmel allegedly claimed.
Authorities say the video reportedly showed Tremmel enter the alleyway, strike a retaining wall and then accelerate, prior to striking the barrier.
Investigators say Tremmel allegedly attempted to drive away from the crash scene, multiple times, instead of calling 911, and he can reportedly be heard on the video telling the victim to "wake up."
According to the affidavit, two days after the crash, the victim reportedly passed away from his injuries sustained in the crash.
Police noted that the Allegheny County coroner's office did not contact Blair County to notify them of the victim's passing, and they also reportedly did not conduct an autopsy.
According to the victim's medical records, which police say they had to obtain via a search warrant, the victim's official cause of death was listed as "blunt force trauma to the trunk due to a motor vehicle accident."
Authorities say the medical records also showed that the victim reportedly suffered a spinal injury and subsequent cardiac arrest as a result of the crash.
Police say that when they contacted the doctor about UPMC Altoona's findings, investigators say the doctor reportedly refused to provide a statement.
Authorities say the doctor at UPMC Presbyterian claimed that she could not directly link the victim's cause of death to the crash because she was "not an autopsy doctor."
Police add that in August, investigators received the results of Tremmel's blood draw, which determined the presence of alcohol and THC in his system at the time of the crash.
According to online court records, charges were filed against Tremmel earlier this month and on Jan. 27, he was arraigned on multiple counts of felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, reckless endangerment and numerous other DUI-related offenses.
He is being housed at the Blair County Prison on $250,000 bail.
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