Driver in fatal West Homestead crash had 3x legal limit of alcohol, police say

An Ohio driver’s blood-alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit when he crashed his car in West Homestead two years ago, killing his girlfriend, who was a passenger, police said.

Following a preliminary hearing Friday, Gaylen Thomas will stand trial on 17 criminal charges including homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and multiple DUI counts in connection with the March 9, 2023, death of Lisa Taylor.

District Judge Lisa V. Caulfield dismissed one count of marijuana possession.

Allegheny County Police last year arrested Thomas, 53, of Steubenville.

The crash on Route 837 happened around 12:45 a.m. when Thomas’s car struck a curb near Seventh Avenue, then collided with a metal pole, a criminal complaint said.

Taylor, 52, of West Homestead was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Thomas’ blood-alcohol content was 0.281%. The legal limit for driving in Pennsylvania is under 0.08%.

While first responders were taking Thomas to UPMC Mercy hospital after the crash, he refused fentanyl, telling paramedics he would “take the pain,” the complaint said.

One witness to the crash said Thomas was driving his car like “a race car going through a drag race,” the complaint said.

The speed limit on Route 837 near the crash is 25 mph, the complaint said. Police didn’t say in the complaint how fast Thomas was driving before the crash.

Thomas’ car sustained heavy front-end damage, whose amount “suggests a very high rate of speed,” police said.

His lawyer, Justin Okun, told TribLive the crash was an accident and said his client was upset.

Someone “lost a family member, the other is being charged with causing that death,” Okun said.

Thomas remained in jail Friday. Judges have twice denied him bail.