Parents detail family injuries during trial of Mother's Day 2016 wreck in Youngwood

William Schuler remembers the sounds of a helicopter as it flew him to a Pittsburgh hospital three years ago following a Mother’s Day crash on Route 119 in Youngwood in which he, his wife and two young children were seriously injured.

He told jurors Tuesday — the first day of the assault trial of a Scottdale man charged with causing the violent May 8, 2016 crash — that he didn’t remember much else.

“We were going to church on Mother’s Day,” Schuler testified. “I noticed a yellow light, so I started slowing down — and that’s all I remember.”

Westmoreland County prosecutors contend a pickup driven by Matthew Murphy, 27, sped down the roadway, moved out into a passing lane to get in front of another vehicle and slammed into the back of Schuler’s car. The force of the collision sent the car into a concrete barrier and caused it to roll over and eventually land on its roof.

Schuler and his wife, Victoria, were thrown from the car. Their two children, Austin, 2, and Gavin, 1, were trapped in the vehicle. All four were severely injured.

Murphy is charged with 13 offenses, including three felony counts of aggravated assault by a vehicle. His truck came to stop after it side-swiped another vehicle in the parking lot of a nearby shopping plaza.

Prosecutors said Murphy was driving between 71 and 78 mph, more than twice the posted 35 mph speed limit of the section of road that runs through Youngwood.

Assistant District Attorney Allen Powanda, in his opening statement to the jury, conceded Murphy had no intent to injure anyone but that his actions in how he drove his truck were criminally negligent.

“This is so beyond what an ordinary, prudent person would exercise. He should be found guilty of these charges,” Powanda said.

The defense suggested that a medical situation was the cause of the crash, possibly that Murphy suffered a seizure just prior to impact with the Schulers’ car.

Defense attorney Brian Aston told jurors Murphy did not have a guilty mind.

“If Mr. Murphy, while behind the wheel, had a medical incident and was no longer able to be in control of the vehicle, do you think that means (he’s guilty)?” Aston asked jurors.

Witnesses testified Tuesday they heard Murphy’s diesel-powered truck speed up, and several said they saw his vehicle slam into the back of the Schulers’ Hyundai Elantra.

Christopher Dini of Youngwood testified he, his girlfriend and sister rushed to the Schulers’ overturned car and attempted to remove the vehicle from atop Victoria Schulers’ legs. William Schuler was found on the ground a few yards from the car.

The parents were not wearing seat belts, both Schulers testified.

Dini’s girlfriend crawled through a window to pull out the youngest child, still in a rear-facing car seat. The older boy was too injured to be immediately removed, witnesses said.

Both children were transported to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Gavin, now 5, was hospitalized for about three months and continues to suffer from permanent physical injuries and developmental deficiencies. Austin, now 4, sustained head injuries but has mostly recovered, his mother said.

Victoria Schuler suffered back and leg injuries and is still recovering, she said. Her husband testified he sustained arm and shoulder injuries.

Prosecutors are expected to have an expert testify about the details of the crash when the trial resumes Wednesday.