Police: Speed a factor in Gilpin man's fatal crash

Speed was a probable cause of a fatal crash that killed a 26-year-old Gilpin Township man Tuesday night, police said.

Christian Joshua Cuffia died after losing control of his car on Ice Pond Road, near Shearer Road around 7:30 p.m. The car traveled about 80 feet off the road before hitting a tree.

“We’re still investigating but we believe that speed did play a factor,” said Gilpin police chief Chris Fabec. “We’re still putting the crash back together, still in the middle of the investigation.”

Police are waiting to get results of toxicology tests from the Armstrong County Coroner’s Office to determine if alcohol or drugs were a factor, Fabec said.

He said Cuffia was the only person in the vehicle.

Cuffia was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the coroner’s office.

Cuffia was employed as a contractor with H&H Construction. He was a graduate of Leechburg High School and Lenape Technical School.

Cuffia leaves behind a son, Clayton Cuffia, and a second unborn child as well as the mother of his first child Carley Chiado, stepdaughter Caroline E. Lee and current girlfriend Shaylynn Hollenbaugh.