May 27, 2022 2 min read

A Carmichaels man was more than two times the legal limit for driving when he crashed into another vehicle killing a father and son, state police alleged.

Police said the vehicles driven by the defendant, Dylan Healey, 25, and the alleged victims, Brian Gilchrist, 41, and Joshua Gilchrist, 18, sustained “catastrophic damage” in the Feb. 20 crash on Route 40 in South Union Township, Fayette County.

The Gilchrists, both of Petersburg, W.Va., died at the scene of the crash of multiple injuries.

When Healey, who was charged Wednesday with two counts of homicide by vehicle, was interviewed after the crash, police said he told them he couldn’t recall what happened, but believed he rear-ended another vehicle. He also reportedly told police he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day.

Tests showed his blood-alcohol content was .207%, over the legal limit of .08% for Pennsylvania drivers, according to court paperwork.

Police reconstructed the crash and, based on the evidence at the scene, found that Healey’s vehicle was traveling westbound at a high rate of speed, but moved into the eastbound lanes where he hit the Gilchrists’ car.

A witness, Sarah Brown, told police she rushed to the vehicles following the collision and opened the driver’s side door of Healey’s vehicle and helped him out. When she asked him if anyone else was inside the vehicle, he said he didn’t know.

Another witness, Kelly Ann Bukrim, told police she stopped and saw Healey sitting in the grassy median, staring at his vehicle, which was on fire. She told police that Healey tried multiple times to return to his vehicle for personal items, but she kept stopping him.

Bukrim asked Healey if he had any drugs on him, and he told her he did not, according to court paperwork. Police said he also told her he had a few drinks and probably would not pass a Breathalyzer test.

In addition to homicide by vehicle, Healey also faces two counts each of driving under the influence of alcohol and aggravated assault by vehicle, as well as several traffic citations.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.