Aug 14, 2013 3 min read

A Blaine Township woman was ordered to stand trial for allegedly providing alcohol to a teenager who was killed in a crash shortly after leaving her home more than two years ago.

Elizabeth Ann Smith, 23, of 3250 Constitution Boulevard, was ordered to stand trial Wednesday by District Judge David Mark on charges of involuntary manslaughter and selling or furnishing alcohol to minors. She is accused of providing beer and whiskey to several underage guests who were at her home June 18, 2011.

Christopher A. Wetzel, 19, of West Alexander, was killed when his vehicle crashed and overturned shortly after leaving Smith’s home. Injured in the crash were Elizabeth Strawn, who was 17 at the time, and Paul Tyler Shirley, who was 19. All three, along with Cameron Hunt of West Alexander, had been at Smith’s home and were drinking alcohol, according to testimony at Wednesday’s hearing.

They were celebrating Strawn’s upcoming 18th birthday. The original plans called for a bonfire at Strawn’s home, but that was called off because of rain. Strawn said they were not there long when she drove Wetzel and Shirley to Smith’s home.

Strawn said Smith purchased beer as well as a bottle of what she believed was Jim Beam whiskey. She testified she asked Smith to purchase the whiskey for her birthday.

While she was at Smith’s house that night, Strawn said she drank Smirnoff and played beer pong. Strawn, Wetzel and Shirley decided to leave Smith’s home and go to a swimming hole known as “The German’s” in Wetzel’s vehicle.

“I remember pulling out of the driveway,” Strawn said. “He swerved and we flipped. When I woke up, I was on the ground outside the vehicle. We were only in the vehicle about 15 seconds before the crash.”

Hunt, who was 19 at the time, testified he was with Smith when she purchased a case of Bud Light beer at a Washington beer distributor. The two went back to her home, where they were eventually joined by Wetzel, Strawn and Shirley.

Hunt testified Wetzel had been drinking beer on the porch, but was not certain if he took any with him when he left Smith’s home. Hunt, who is a volunteer firefighter, said his pager went off after Wetzel left. He did not respond to the emergency but later learned it was calling firefighters to the crash involving his friends.

Smith remains free on $50,000 unsecured bond.