A Blairsville woman pleaded guilty yesterday in Westmoreland County court in connection with a fatal crash in February of 2023.
Westmoreland County Judge Michael Stewart III ordered 33-year-old Ashley Kelley to serve up to a day less than two years in county jail for a charge of misdemeanor vehicular homicide and up to five years in prison for a count of Driving Under the Influence. She originally faced felony vehicular homicide, two counts of reckless endangerment and other charges connected with a crash on Route 217 in Derry Township that killed 49-year-old Regina Endress of Josephine but was allowed to plead guilty to lesser charges. Police said that Kelley’s van swerved into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with Endress’ vehicle.
While police initially said that marijuana was in her system at the time, Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney Anthony Iannamorelli said prosecutors were unable to prove that the drugs directly contributed to the crash.
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