Connellsville man arrested in triple-fatal crash in German Twp.
Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower holds up a photo of a Ford F-150 that was hit by a tri-axle dump truck on Route 21 in German Township June 18, leaving three people dead. The tri-axle driver, Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of Connellsville is facing third-degree murder and related charges in the case.
Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower holds up a photo of a tri-axle dump truck that hit a pickup truck on Route 21 in German Township June 18, leaving three people dead. The tri-axle driver, Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of Connellsville is facing third-degree murder and related charges in the case.
Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower discusses charges filed against Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of Connellsville. Burnsworth is facing third-degree murder and related charges for allegedly driving under the influence of fentanyl and cocaine when he slammed into a pickup truck on Route 21 in German Township June 18, leaving three people dead, including a 4-year-old boy. Bower is joined by Sgt. Juan Curry (at left) and Sgt. Michael Irwin (at right).
Alyssa Choiniere | 蘑菇视频
In this Aug. 1 file photo, Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower holds up a photo of a Ford F-150 that was hit by a tri-axle dump truck on Route 21 in German Township June 18, leaving three people dead. The tri-axle driver, Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of Connellsville is facing third-degree murder and related charges in the case.
Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower holds up a photo of a Ford F-150 that was hit by a tri-axle dump truck on Route 21 in German Township June 18, leaving three people dead. The tri-axle driver, Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of Connellsville is facing third-degree murder and related charges in the case.
This tri-axle dump truck hit a pickup truck on Route 21 in German Township June 18, leaving three people dead. The tri-axle driver, Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of Connellsville is facing third-degree murder and related charges in the case.
Burnsworth
This Ford F-150 was hit by a tri-axle dump truck on Route 21 in German Township June 18, leaving three people dead. The tri-axle driver, Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of Connellsville is facing third-degree murder and related charges in the case.
This Ford F-150 was hit by a tri-axle dump truck on Route 21 in German Township June 18, leaving three people dead. The tri-axle driver, Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of Connellsville is facing third-degree murder and related charges in the case.
This Ford F-150 was hit by a tri-axle dump truck on Route 21 in German Township June 18, leaving three people dead. The tri-axle driver, Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of Connellsville is facing third-degree murder and related charges in the case.
A tri-axle dump truck driver was allegedly under the influence of multiple drugs when he reportedly crossed into the opposing lane of traffic and hit a pickup truck in German Township, leaving three people dead, including a 4-year-old boy.
The driver, identified as Wilbert James Burnsworth, 36, of 105 West Cedar Avenue in Connellsville, was charged with third-degree murder and related charges. He was arrested Thursday, about one hour after a press conference where authorities appealed to the public for help in finding him.
The three deceased people were 4-year-old Hunter Bradee of McClellandtown, 20-year-old Kayla Nicole Burwell of McClellandtown and 53-year-old Ronald Burwell Jr. of Uniontown. They were all in the pickup truck, which Kayla Burwell, Bradee蘑菇视频 aunt, was driving. Ronald Burwell was Bradee蘑菇视频 grandfather and Kayla Burwell蘑菇视频 father. He and Bradee died on the scene. Kayla Burwell was pronounced dead at Uniontown Hospital. The crash occurred at about 3:55 p.m. June 18 near Double T Bar & Grill.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 a sad event for us,鈥� state police Trooper Robert Broadwater said at a press conference Thursday morning.
A blood test indicated Burnsworth had cocaine, fentanyl and norfentanyl in his system at the time of the collision, Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower said.
鈥淗e was working at the time, and he worked for Route 51 Trucking Co.,鈥� he said.
Shortly after the crash, troopers had to wake up Burnsworth when they arrived at Uniontown Hospital for a blood draw, and again when they arrived at the state police barracks. He fell asleep in the lobby for 45 minutes, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in his case.
鈥淎s we all know, drugs are a major problem in this area 鈥� not just this area, but throughout our country,鈥� Bower said.
He referenced the pervasiveness of overdose deaths caused by fentanyl, and said driving a tri-axle under its influence prompted him to charge Burnsworth with third-degree murder.
鈥淭hese are the things that all of us should be very aware of. You don鈥檛 know what the other driver was involved in,鈥� Bower said.
Charges were filed after the blood test results were returned.
A witness told state police the tri-axle passed her and two vehicles in front of her 鈥渁t a high rate of speed鈥� on McClellandtown Road where two lanes merge into one. She said it crossed the double yellow line several times, and at one point about 3/4 mile from the crash site, it was completely in the opposing lane of traffic, according to the affidavit.
State police were responding to a report of the tri-axle weaving in and out of its lane when the crash occurred. They were called about 2 minutes before the crash, Broadwater said.
If a person sees a driver weaving, 鈥渃ontact us,鈥� Broadwater said.
The scene was difficult for investigators, Bower said.
鈥淭hese are things that impact even the troopers and myself. We have to look at it from a very objective standpoint, but again, when you鈥檙e out there and you see this it does have an effect on you,鈥� he said.
He commended state police for their work on the case. He said state police always do 鈥渁 great job鈥� working with family members whose loved ones died.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 a very, very tough, very, very tough situation for a trooper to have to advise someone蘑菇视频 family that their family members have died, and in this case you had not just one family, you have fathers, mothers, etc. for all these people,鈥� he said.
Burnsworth was charged with three counts each of third-degree murder, aggravated assault, homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, DUI, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person and aggravated assault by vehicle, and one count of risking catastrophe.