Vehicular homicide charge headed to court in fatal Lower Burrell crash

Oct. 10--An Allegheny Township man is will stand trial for allegedly running a red light, causing a crash that killed a Lower Burrell man in May.

Vaughn Eric Krepps, 46, of Labelle Vue Road is accused of fleeing the scene of the May 21 collision at the intersection of the Route 56 Bypass and Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell.

Bradley H. Johnson, 36, died a short time later in Allegheny Valley Hospital.

Krepps' preliminary hearing was scheduled for Tuesday morning in the Allegheny Township office of District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec.

Public defender Chris Haidze said Krepps waived charges to court.

According to police, Krepps was driving his 1999 black Dodge Ram pickup at a high rate of speed on Route 56 headed toward New Kensington when the crash occurred.

Witnesses said Johnson was turning from Leechburg Road onto Route 56 when Krepps sped through a red light.

Johnson's Honda Accord was hit broadside.

Several motorists told police the pickup driver got out of his disabled truck, walked over to Johnson's severely damaged car, "grabbed his head and surveyed the accident scene."

Krepps was driving while his license was suspended for drunken driving and they say there was an open beer can found in his wrecked truck. He also allegedly didn't have insurance.

Krepps is charged with homicide by vehicle, unintentionally causing a fatal accident, leaving the scene of an accident, failing to stop and render aid, reckless driving and numerous traffic violations, among them ignoring a red traffic light.

He remains in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond because of the homicide charge.

Krepps' girlfriend, Jennifer Chenot, 48, also of Labelle Vue Road, is accused of driving Krepps from the accident scene. On Tuesday, her preliminary hearing for conspiracy was continued to Oct. 24 because she didn't have a public defender.

Haidze can't represent both Krepps and Chenot.

Therefore, another attorney will be appointed to represent her for the felony conspiracy charge.

Chuck Biedka is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-226-4711, [email protected] or via Twitter @ChuckBiedka.

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