Oct 15, 2018 3 min read

North Strabane Township police were able to use parts of a vehicle found at the scene of a deadly hit-and-run crash earlier this month as well as surveillance from video cameras to identify the driver who struck and killed a pedestrian.

Curtis Edward Ziegler, 53, of 8 Poplar St., Canonsburg, was arraigned Monday before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of accidents involving death or personal injury, failure to give information and render aid, failure to notify police of an accident, careless driving and careless driving resulting in unintentional death in the Oct. 7 accident. Matthew Joseph Smith, 59, of Washington, died after he reportedly was struck at 12:26 a.m. by Ziegler’s pickup truck as he walked in the northbound lanes of Route 19 (Washington Road) near Weavertown Road. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause and manner of his death are still pending.

The charges filed against Ziegler were based on recommendations from the Washington County district attorney’s office after a review of the case, said Officer Matthew Schmeltz, who filed the charges.

It appears Smith, who was wearing darker clothing, was walking in the northbound, right lane of Route 19, police said.

Evidence found at the scene, including pieces of a headlight, indicated the vehicle was from a General Motors pickup truck. Police were able to check surveillance video from a nearby Sheetz store and saw what appeared to be a light-colored pickup truck going north on Route 19.

“We checked on the chance that the driver may have been coming from The Meadows Casino,” Schmeltz said.

Lt. Kristopher Wagstaff checked the traffic camera mounted at the intersection of Racetrack Road and Meadows Drive. At 12:17 a.m., a light-colored Chevrolet Silverado is seen turning left onto Racetrack from Meadows Drive.

Casino security was contacted to track the vehicle. Ziegler was determined to be the registered owner and lives a short distance from the crash site. Police went to his home about 5 a.m. and found the truck parked in the driveway.

When police told Ziegler they were investigating an incident, he told them, “I thought it was a deer. I thought I hit a deer. I was driving down the road and boom.” Ziegler added he was driving home from the casino when he struck something on Route 19 near the Sheetz. Ziegler later said during an interview he knew it was a person he struck.

During the arraignment, Schmeltz told Weller that Ziegler had been cooperative. Ziegler, who works at an area auto body repair shop, told Weller he had never before been arrested.

Christopher Blackwell concurred his client was fully cooperating with police. He also said Ziegler had submitted to blood alcohol testing that came back negative for alcohol or drugs.

The initial investigation done on behalf of his client also showed Smith had been walking in the roadway, Blackwell said. The attorney also said there were no reports from passersby of someone walking on the road.

Ziegler was released on $10,000 unsecured bond. He is scheduled for a Nov. 13 preliminary hearing before Weller.