Driver charged in Parkway West crash that killed South Park woman

A man already in jail for his third DUI conviction was charged Friday in connection with a 2019 crash that killed a South Park woman.

Aaron Hutchison, 20, of Carnegie, was under the influence of marijuana and morphine at the time, state police wrote in his criminal complaint.

He is charged with homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, reckless endangerment, speeding and other traffic counts stemming from the crash on the Parkway West on March 19, 2019.

Hutchison was driving a white Honda Civic about 2:05 p.m. on I-376 West when he attempted to swerve around traffic while speeding near the Carnegie interchange.

He crashed, and one of his passengers, Victoria Brandt, 19, of South Park, was ejected.

She died a short time later at UPMC Mercy. A tractor-trailer trying to avoid the collision swerved and crashed into another vehicle.

Right after the crash, a witness saw Hutchison “fighting” to get the airbag out of his face and then climb out of the passenger side window, according to the criminal complaint.

The witness asked Hutchison if he was injured, state police said, and Hutchison responded that he was “good,” and walked toward the exit.

About 15 minutes later, the Scott Township police chief found Hutchison at the GetGo in Carnegie. The chief reported that he smelled a strong odor of marijuana on his person and breath, and saw that Hutchison’s face and head were bleeding, the complaint said.

Hutchison at first denied he was involved in the crash and then admitted that he was, but said he was not the driver, the complaint said. Hutchison admitted to the chief he had smoked marijuana prior to the crash, investigators said.

Blood tests showed Hutchison was under the influence of marijuana and morphine, the complaint said, and DNA testing showed that blood obtained from the driver’s side airbag belonged to Hutchison and the rear passenger.

Hutchison, who is incarcerated at the Allegheny County Jail, is serving an 18-month sentence after pleading guilty in January to his third felony DUI.

His first DUI arrest, according to court records, was Sept. 26, 2018. Subsequent arrests were made on Oct. 31, 2018, and Feb. 27, 2020.

Defense attorney Casey White said Hutchison and his family extend their sympathy to Brandt and her loved ones.

“All four individuals in that car were very young adults, and three lives were forever altered and one family is forever changed,” White said. “Regardless of the outcome of this case, no one will really win in the end.”

Still, he continued, “we always knew that this day could come, and we have prepared for it.”

Last week, Brandt’s parents filed a civil lawsuit for wrongful death and negligence against Hutchison and the owner of the car, Thomas Ramirez, who is the father of one of the other occupants that day.