State Police at Rockview on Thursday charged a Clinton County man with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence for a crash that killed a woman who was his passenger last summer in Penns Valley.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, blood testing found that 29-year-old Travis L. Bennett, of Mill Hall, was under the influence of amphetamine and methamphetamine on the afternoon of Aug. 18 when he crashed a 2011 Toyota Rav 4 on Route 45/Penns Valley Road in Haines Township.
Bennett was driving westbound when he traveled off the north side of the road and struck several trees, with the final impact causing the vehicle to go airborne, according to police.
His passenger, 25-year-old Hali Harpster, was unresponsive when emergency responders arrived. She died while en route to the hospital from injuries sustained during the crash.
When questioned by a trooper at the scene, Bennett, who had minor injuries, was unable to provide a reason why he drove off the road, police wrote. He allegedly displayed signs of impairment and admitted to using Aderall.
After a drug recognition evaluation, Bennett was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for blood chemical testing.
A search of the area of the crash yielded a glass container with suspected methamphetamine and a glass smoking device, according to the affidavit.
“The cause of the crash was determined to be Bennett’s impairment due to the vehicle drifting off the roadway and no corrective measures were taken, resulting in the crash,” police wrote.
In addition to a second-degree felony count of homicide by vehicle while DUI, Bennett is charged with a felony count of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, misdemeanor counts of DUI, recklessly endangering another person, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and four summary traffic offenses.
He was arraigned on Thursday afternoon before District Judge Gregory Koehle and was unable to post $350,000 straight bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 15.
