Search Warrant: Beer Cans Found At Rt. 30 Crash Scene, Passenger Says "Driving Was Scary"
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- There are new details emerging about the driver in the wrong-way crash in Westmoreland County last week that claimed the life of a Ligonier Township Police lieutenant.
A judge signed a search warrant so state police can obtain the blood alcohol level of the man who was driving the van that crashed into the officer's vehicle. In that paperwork is more information about the hours and minutes leading up to the accident.
According to a search warrant paperwork, four first responders to the scene of the crash reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on the breath of the suspect, Clair Fink III.
The search warrant also reports that investigators also found and empty 16 ounce beer can in the eastbound lane of the road at the crash scene, and another can was found in the van Fink was driving.
Police say Fink and his passenger were allegedly driving the wrong way on Route 30 early last Tuesday morning when their van crashed into Lt. Eric Eslary's police vehicle, killing the officer.
Eslary's K-9 partner, Blek, was seriously injured in the crash and continues to recover.
According to the search warrant, Fink told one of the paramedics that treated him at the scene of the accident that "he had been drinking in the Greensburg area prior to the crash."
The affidavit reports Fink's passenger, 21-year-old Derek Gifford, told police that he and Fink had been working the day before the crash at a job site in Uniontown. On their way home, Gifford reported to authorities that the pair stopped at a beer distributor and bought "an 18-pack of 16 ounce Natural Ice beer."
The search warrant reports they started drinking around 7:20 p.m. Monday "on their way back to the warehouse," and continued to drink after arriving there until about 9 p.m.
That's when they left and eventually ended up at the Beehive showbar strip club in Salem Township and stayed for about an hour, the affidavit says.
Authorities say the men left the bar around 12:42 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the affidavit, Gifford told police that Fink "would have had between seven to nine" 16 ounce beers by that time. He also told investigators that Fink told him while they were stopped at a Sheetz that "he was intoxicated."
Just before the accident, at the intersection where it happened, Gifford said Fink made a left turn and he told him "that his driving was 'scary,'" the affidavit says.
The search warrant was filed to get all medical records for Fink.
He was taken to Conemaugh Medical Center after the crash with serious injuries. Gifford suffered injuries in the crash as well.
No charges have been filed in the crash.
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