Driver Who Crashed Into Minivan Heading to Trial on DUI Charges

A Mt. Lebanon teen accused of being high when police say he crashed into a minivan on Vanadium Road in Kirawn Heights is heading to trial on DUI charges.

Nathan L. McGuire, 19, waived to court charges of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, reckless driving and other traffic citations.

However, two counts of reckless endangerment were withdrawn before his preliminary hearing with District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet on Jan. 7.

McGuire was driving up Vanadium Road on Sept. 9 when Collier Township police said he lost control at the railroad tracks in Kirwan Heights and crashed into a minivan going the other way. The woman driving the van had to be cut out of the vehicle and was taken to a Pittsburgh area hospital. Her son in the van, who is disabled, was taken to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

He was charged on Oct. 29 after investigators received toxicology results. It’s not known why the reckless endangerment charges were withdrawn.

Look below to read other preliminary hearing decisions by McGraw-Desmet and District Judge Gary Zyra.

Sign up for our Daily E-mail Newsletter or Like the Chartiers Valley Patch Facebook page

District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet – 1/7

Charges waived to court

• Three counts of identity theft against Dawn Gajan, 35, of Belle Vernon, were waived to court. South Fayette police charged Gajan on Nov. 29.

• Drunken driving charges against Karen A. Fleck, 43, of McKees Rocks, were waived to court, while counts of reckless driving and careless driving were withdrawn. State police arrested Fleck in Collier Township on Sept. 1.

• Drunken driving charges against Brian Richards, 27, of Chagrin Falls, OH, were waived to court, while counts of reckless driving and careless driving were withdrawn. State police arrested Richards in Allegheny County on July 14.

• Drunken driving charges against Jean Staude, 56, of Pittsburgh, were waived to court, while counts of reckless driving and careless driving were withdrawn. State police arrested Staude in Collier Township on July 1.

District Judge Gary Zyra – 1/3

Charges waived to court

• Charges of drunken driving and careless driving against Evan R. Harkins, 20, of Waynesboro, were waived to court. Scott Township police charged Harkins on Aug. 27.

Charges reduced or withdrawn

• Charges of loitering, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia against Andrew Wissel, 26, of Heidelberg, were withdrawn. Public drunkenness and disorderly conduct charges were reduced to non-traffic citations. Heidelberg police charged Wissel on April 21.

• A possession of drug paraphernalia charge against Sarah Porterfield, 20, of Greensburg, was withdrawn, while a disorderly conduct charge was reduced to a non-traffic citation. Heidelberg police charged Porterfield on Oct. 3.