Police: 'Dozens' of empty alcohol bottles in SUV at time of fatal Monroeville hit-and-run

Police say they found dozens of empty alcohol bottles and cans in the SUV of a man charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run Wednesday in Monroeville.

Braden Chetsko told police he has a drinking problem, and he’d been drinking and smoking marijuana before work and continued drinking during and after work, according to a criminal complaint.

Chetsko, 22, faces homicide by vehicle charges in connection with the death of 50-year-old James Scandrick, who was struck around 9:20 p.m. on Mosside Boulevard. Police described Scandrick as suffering from “severe trauma,” and he was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at UPMC East.

Scandrick died of blunt force trauma to the head, neck, trunk, pelvis and extremities, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.

While police were at the accident scene, dispatchers received a 911 call from Chetsko who said he “thinks that he just hit something,” and he’d pulled over at the Twin Fountain Plaza on Monroeville Boulevard, according to the criminal complaint.

Witnesses told police a white SUV had struck Scandrick, and investigators said Chetsko was driving a white Nissan Rogue that, when they arrived, had damage to the hood, fender, windshield and headlight, according to the complaint.

Officers said Chetsko seemed impaired and smelled of alcohol.

In an interview with police, Chetsko said he starting smoking when he woke up Wednesday and then began drinking bottles of Johny Bootleggers, an alcohol mixed to taste like cocktails that is generally sold in 6.8-ounce bottles at 12% ABV.

Chetsko said he went to work around 3 p.m., and he drank “a few more bottles” of Johny Bootleggers while at work, according to the complaint. He said he got off work around 7 p.m. but when he arrived home, his father was there and Chetsko did not want him to know he’d been drinking, police said.

He said he drove around aimlessly to kill time until his father left, according to the complaint, and he said he was on Mosside Avenue when he hit something. He told police he didn’t stop but pulled over later and saw the damage to the Rogue.

Investigators said a search of the SUV showed “dozens of empty Johny Bootlegger bottles and empty beer cans,” according to the complaint. Officers noted that all of the cans and bottles were empty and “there were no full, unopened or partially full containers of alcohol in the vehicle.”

Chetsko is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death or injury, involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence and traffic violations.

No attorney was listed for Chetsko early Thursday afternoon, and Chetsko could not immediately be reached for comment.