New Kensington man gets court date in fentanyl-related Route 28 crash case
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A New Kensington man accused of being under the influence of fentanyl this summer, blacking out on Route 28 and crashing his car with his 5-year-old son in the back seat is headed to Allegheny County Court.
Ryan Joseph Walsh, 29, was driving a Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Route 28 near the Etna exit (Exit 4) about 5:40 p.m. July 30, according to a criminal complaint in the case.
Walsh “made an abrupt transition” between lanes, struck a guardrail, “failed to negotiate a slight left curve within the roadway” and collided with a concrete barrier, the complaint said.
First responders needed to provide Walsh with Narcan, the complaint said.
Narcan, a form of the drug naloxone, is a medicine that can help people who are overdosing on an opioid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Opioids include prescription medications, heroin and fentanyl.
“Walsh related he did not know what happened,” the complaint said. “He did not remember crashing and may have blacked out.”
During field sobriety testing, police said Walsh “displayed multiple signs of impairment.”
Attorney Justin John-Earl Ketchel, who represents Walsh, did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday morning.
A young boy was removed from the vehicle after the crash, the complaint said. He had been sitting in the middle of the back seat in a child safety seat.
It was unclear in the complaint whether the boy was injured. State police were not immediately available for comment Wednesday morning.
A first responder found a “glassine packet” near the driver’s-side tire of Walsh’s vehicle, the complaint said. Police searching Walsh found at least eight other packets in his left pocket.
“Glassine packets” can be used to carry drugs such as heroin and fentanyl, authorities such as the federal Drug Enforcement Administration have said.
Walsh’s blood, which was drawn and tested, indicated the presence of benzoylecgonine, fentanyl, norfentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl and delta-9 carboxy THC, the complaint said.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive element of cannabis.
State police charged Walsh with three counts of DUI, one count each of endangering the welfare of children, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as five moving violations including reckless driving, court records show.
Walsh’s preliminary hearing in district court was held Wednesday, court records show. He is set to be arraigned Jan. 16.