Perryopolis man to serve 2-4 years in jail for fatal Greene County crash
A Perryopolis man, who was drunk when he crashed in Greene County in July 2021 and killed another driver, is scheduled to report to jail today to serve his sentence after pleading guilty last month.
Jake Richard Basinger, 29, pleaded guilty in Greene County Court of Common Pleas on March 26 to charges of homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence, and was immediately sentenced by President Judge Lou Dayich to serve 2 to 4 years in the county jail.
State police said Basinger was driving east on Route 188 in Morgan Township on July 30, 2021, when his SUV crossed the centerline near Lippencott Road and struck another vehicle head-on. The driver of the other vehicle, 37-year-old Christin Whateley of Jefferson, died at the scene of blunt force trauma, according to police. Basinger was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital to undergo treatment for his injuries.
According to court documents, Basinger’s blood-alcohol content was .138% at the time, which is nearly double the legal limit to drive a motor vehicle in the state.
“It’s a sad situation,” defense attorney David Kaiser said Thursday. “Not much more you can say. Unfortunate situation all the way around.”
Basinger was charged in April 2022 and has been free on $25,000 unsecured bond while the case proceeded through the courts.
After his jail sentence is completed, Basinger will serve a year on probation.