Driver in fatal hit-and-run crash in North Strabane waives charges
The Canonsburg man accused of hitting and killing a 58-year-old Washington man as he walked along Route 19 (Washington Road) near Weavertown Road in North Strabane Township last month waived his case to court Tuesday.
Curtis Edward Ziegler, 53, of 8 Poplar St., was scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of accidents involving death or personal injury, failure to stop and render aid, failure to notify police of an accident, careless driving resulting in unintentional death and careless drivng in the Oct.7 incident that killed Matthew Joseph Smith.
Ziegler was driving his pickup truck north on Route 19 about 12:25 a.m. when he allegedly struck Smith, who was walking in the right northbound lane. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police were able to use evidence found at the scene to determine the vehicle involved was an early 2000s General Motors pickup truck. Surveillance from a nearby Sheetz convenience store showed what appeared to be a light-colored pickup truck driving north on Route 19
Police accessed traffic cameras at the intersection of Racetrack Road and Meadows Drive.
About 10 minutes before the accident, a light-colored pickup is seen turning left from Meadows onto Racetrack.
The surveillance at the Meadows Casino was backtracked and police were able to determine the license plate on the truck. Ziegler is the registered owner.
A few hours later, police went to Ziegler’s home, a short distance from the scene of the crash and found the truck in the driveway. When Ziegler answered the door, he reportedly told police that he thought he hit a deer. During a later interview, Ziegler allegedly said he knew he hit a person.
Peter Marcoline, Ziegler’s defense attorney, said they will continue to work with North Strabane police and the district attorney’s office towards an appropriate resolution of the case.
“It is a sad and unfortunate incident for all parties involved,” Marcoline said.
Ziegler is free on $10,000 unsecured bond. He will be formally arraigned on the charges Jan. 31.