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Local Mother Charged In Accident That Killed 3 Teens

GREENSBURG (KDKA) -- Police say a local mother contributed to a crash that killed three teenagers.

Susan Sanders-Watt, 59, is charged with 16 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors in addition to four counts each of corruption of a minor and endangering the welfare of a child.

She allegedly purchased a half keg of beer last June so her son could have a graduation party for his friends, but three of those friends were killed in a crash on the way home from the party.

A fourth was seriously injured.

Michael Simpson, Jordan Cobb, both 19, and 18-year-old Carly Kudray, were all graduates of Greensburg-Salem High School.

They were driving on Church Street in Salem Township at the time of the crash.

Simpson, who was driving, had a blood alcohol level of .147 – more than seven times the legal limit for someone his age.

Police also believe the teens had been drinking at Kudray's father's home earlier in the evening.

Chad Vandergraft, the fourth teen, was ejected from the vehicle and was critically injured. He ultimately survived.

Sanders-Watt told KDKA's Trina Orlando in the courtroom she was sorry for everything that happened and sobbed to the judge as she explained the charges against her.

She was released on $25,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this month.

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