A fatal collision in Dravosburg, Pennsylvania, on September 20, 2023, involving a school van and two other vehicles, resulted in the death of 15-year-old Samantha Lee Kalkbrenner and injuries to five others.
The incident, occurring near Richland Avenue and 3rd Street, involved a van with four students from Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport and has prompted discussions about road safety in the local community.
The Allegheny County Police reported that the crash occurred as the school van attempted a left turn. At this juncture, it was struck by a northbound Volkswagen Jetta GTI, driven by William Soliday II, a 43-year-old from Irwin, Pennsylvania. The impact caused three students to be ejected from the van, including Kalkbrenner who was pronounced dead at the scene. The van driver, Soliday and three students were all sent to the hospital.
Further investigation revealed the involvement of a second vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Andrew Voigt, 37, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who failed to stop, flying through the intersection and past the accident. Both Soliday and Voigt are accused of participating in reckless street racing, leading to the crash. The two, who work together at a nearby business, face charges, including highway racing.
Evidence suggests that Soliday’s vehicle was traveling over 100 mph shortly before the crash, with Voigt’s vehicle in close pursuit. The charges brought against the drivers are substantial. Soliday faces criminal homicide, vehicular homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment. Voigt has been charged with accidents involving death or injury and reckless endangering.
In response to the charges, Casey White, Soliday’s attorney, mentioned his client’s head trauma and subsequent memory loss have contributed to a lack of recollection of the collision, contending that the crash was accidental. David Shrager, representing Voigt, referred to the distressing nature of road accidents, questioning how many stop at the scene of a horrific crash.
This incident has cast a spotlight on the dangers of reckless driving. As Dravosburg mourns, the community’s attention turns to the legal proceedings against Soliday and Voigt, highlighting the broader implications for road safety awareness.