2 charged in connection with school van crash that killed 15-year-old Serra Catholic student
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Two men are facing charges in connection with the crash that killed a Serra Catholic High School student in September.
William Soliday II and Andrew Voigt were charged in connection with the deadly crash on Sept. 20, according to a news release Wednesday on the Allegheny County Police Department's Facebook page.
Police said the driver of the van carrying Samantha Kalkbrenner tried to make a left turn from Third Street onto Richland Avenue in Dravosburg when it was hit by a driver traveling north on Richland Avenue. Kalkbrenner, 15, was killed. Three other students and the van's driver were injured.
Police said on Wednesday that an investigation found that the driver of the van checked "each direction multiple times before entering the intersection." After the driver pulled out to the intersection, the school van was hit by the driver of a Volkswagen. The driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk passed through the intersection right after, police said.
Witnesses told police that the drivers of the Volkswagen and Jeep were speeding and appeared to be racing as they crossed the Mansfield Bridge driving toward the intersection of Third Street and Richland Avenue.
Police identified the 43-year-old Soliday as the driver of the Volkswagen and Voigt as the driver of the Jeep. Both men, police said, worked at a business about a quarter mile from the crash scene.
Data from the Volkswagen showed Soliday was driving more than 100 miles per hour leading up to the crash.
"At the point of impact with the school van, the Volkswagen was determined to be traveling 90 mph," police said in the news release
Both men were taken into custody on Wednesday. Soliday faces multiple charges, including third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and homicide by vehicle. Voigt is charged with one felony count of accidents involving death/personal injury and multiple misdemeanors.
Both men were transported to the Allegheny County Jail pending their preliminary arraignments. Soliday was also injured in the crash.
Soliday's lawyer said the charges were a surprise.
"We don't believe that Bill Soliday was acting with any reckless disregard for the value of human life," Casey White told KDKA-TV, "nor was he acting in a malicious manner. This was an accident and a young lady lost her life as a result of this accident, and it's a sad situation. And nothing I will say or do will help the Kalkbrenner family mourning the loss of their daughter."
Community calls for safety changes
In the wake of the deadly crash, the Dravosburg community has demanded changes on the road near the crash.
Allegheny County installed "no left turn" and "all traffic must turn right" signs at Third and Fourth streets, as well as Beech Alley.
The county also painted "slow" pavement markings on Richland Avenue north of the Mansfield Bridge and before the road's intersection with Third Street. There is also a "speed limit 40" sign facing southbound traffic.
Last month, state Senator Jim Brewster said hopes a new traffic light will get installed along Richland Avenue within "months and not two to three years."
