LANCASTER, Pa. — A Montour County man has been charged with DUI and other offenses related to a deadly crash in Lancaster County earlier this year, according to court documents filed by authorities.
Apar Patel, 36, of Danville, is accused of driving under the influence and causing a crash that claimed the life of 33-year-old Karra Clevenger on Route 283 near the Route 741 exit in Lancaster County on Sept. 8, according to East Hempfield Township Police, who investigated the crash.
Police say the crash occurred at about 11:31 p.m.
Patel was operating a BMW that crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer, according to police. Clevenger, who was riding in the car with Patel, was ejected from the vehicle and landed in the opposing traffic lanes, where she was struck by multiple other vehicles.
The Huntingdon woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
Patel was taken to a local hospital for treatment after the crash. In an interview with police, he said that he and Clevenger had been in Lancaster earlier that evening, where they had dinner and consumed alcohol.
Police say he was showing signs of impairment during the interview.
The investigation later determined Patel and Clevenger had been to three different places in Lancaster approximately seven hours before the crash, consuming alcohol at each location.
A reconstruction of the crash and the investigation determined it was caused by impairment on the part of Patel, according to the complaint.
He is charged with two misdemeanor DUI offenses, homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while DUI, reckless driving, driving at unsafe speed, disregarding traffic lanes and one other summary traffic violation.
Police filed charges on Wednesday. A preliminary arraignment was scheduled for Friday, Nov. 22 according to court records.
