Police: Driver under the influence of cocaine in Salem crash that killed 1, injured 2

State police accuse a former New Alexandria man of being under the influence of cocaine during a fatal crash in Salem over the summer.

Brian Keith Clemons, 42, of Normantown, W.Va., was arrested Wednesday in connection with the Aug. 10 crash on Route 22. He is charged with homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, driving under the influence and related offenses. Clemons lived in New Alexandria at the time of the crash.

The crash happened just after 9 a.m. at the intersection with East Pittsburgh Street when a Ford F-150 being driven eastbound by Clemons rear-ended a Chrysler Cirrus that was stopped at a red light on Route 22.

Emergency responders pulled Charles Vincent Hodgkins, 27, of Greensburg, from the Chrysler. He died at AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, police said. His wife and their 3-year-old daughter, both passengers, were seriously injured, police said.

Brittany Hodgkins was not wearing a seat belt and she was treated at Allegheny General Hospital. Their daughter, who was restrained in a child seat, was treated at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Charles Hodgkins was a Jeannette native who worked at Giant Eagle, according to his obituary.

Clemons told troopers after the crash that he wasn’t able to stop in time and slammed into the back of the car.

“The defendant admitted that the crash had been his fault, that he was in a hurry and (had) not been paying attention,” Trooper Anthony Baum wrote in court papers.

Police said Clemons was speeding prior to the crash. He was not hurt. A blood test showed he had cocaine in his system, according to court papers.

He is free on $100,000 unsecured bond. A Nov. 25 preliminary hearing is set. Clemons declined to comment on the charges when reached by a reporter Thursday.