Charleroi man charged in fatal crash waives his case to court
A Charleroi man charged earlier this month in connection with a Feb. 22 crash on Interstate 70 near the south junction with Interstate 79 in South Strabane Township that killed a North Strabane Township man and seriously injured his son waived his case to court Wednesday.
Bryan D. Anthony, 36, waived charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, failure to stay in his lane, driving on divided highways, speeding and careless driving filed by state police. He had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Central Court before District Judge Joshua Kanalis.
Brian L. Anselmino, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene. Anselmino’s 13-year-old son, Anthony Anselmino, was seriously injured and flown to a Pittsburgh hospital after the four-vehicle crash.
State police said Anthony was driving west in the westbound lanes when his vehicle went into the median and crossed into the eastbound lanes, striking Anselmino’s sport utility vehicle and causing it to roll on its side. A state police accident reconstruction specialist determined that Anthony was driving 68 mph in the 55 mph zone.
Anthony’s car also struck an eastbound tractor-trailer driven by Jack Pranno, 52, of Washington state. The rig became disabled and struck Anselmino’s vehicle before going across the median and onto the westbound side of the highway, where it jackknifed and blocked both lanes. A fourth vehicle, driven by Matthew Stantspainter, 36, of Washington, struck debris in the westbound lanes, went through the median and came to rest facing eastbound. Neither Pranno nor Stantspainter was injured in the crash, police said.
In addition to being a standout basketball player at Ringgold High School and Duquesne University, Anselmino also was a youth sports coach and had been a volunteer and assistant basketball coach at Canon-McMillan High School.
Anthony remains free on $50,000 unsecured bond.