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Video: Police: Hempfield Driver Hits, Kills Man After Day Of Drinking
Police: Hempfield Driver Hits, Kills Man After Day Of Shots, Beers
Young Grapeville Man Struck While Pushing Bike On Route 30
POSTED: 6:34 am EDT April 7, 2008
UPDATED: 1:50 pm EDT April 9, 2008
HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Family and friends are coping with a young Grapeville man's hit-and-run death, which state police said came at the hands of a drunken driver in Hempfield Township.
Matthew Snyder, of North Huntingdon, drank at least 10 shots and as many as 20 beers before taking the wheel of the vehicle that police say hit Christopher Allen Hays on Route 30 early Monday, according to police.
"Now that he's gone, it's going to be so hard," said Jessica McFadden, 16, who had been dating Hays, 18, for more than a year. "He was the best boyfriend I ever had, and I wish he would come back."
Hays was on his way home from work at a local Taco Bell restaurant, pushing his bicycle between the striping on the edge of the road and a raised concrete curb, when he was struck by a vehicle heading west toward Jeannette, police said.
Investigators said they got a phone tip from a man who had seen a white sport utility vehicle with front-end damage getting off Route 30 in Irwin shortly after 2 a.m. Monday.
Police said they canvassed that general area until spotting a matching vehicle with damage parked in the driveway of a home. When they went to the door, they found the 27-year-old Snyder and questioned him.
Snyder said he had been drinking for several hours earlier in the day, and he was driving near Home Depot in Hempfield when he reached for a cigarette lighter, took his eyes off the road, felt the vehicle hit something and kept going, according to police.
"They did really good," said Hays' brother, Collin. "I was pretty impressed that they found him in two days, a day and a half."
Police also interviewed Robert Smith, who told them that he was with Snyder while they were drinking at Pluma in Irwin and at Tom's Bar in Greensburg. Smith said that Snyder drank five shots of liquor and 10 bottles of beer at each of the two bars, according to police.
"Prior to Synder departing, Smith offered for Snyder to stay at his apartment, which is attached to Tom's Bar. Smith indicated that Snyder was visibly intoxicated and should not have been driving. Snyder declined Smith's offer and headed home," according to the criminal complaint.
On Tuesday afternoon, police charged Snyder with homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence. He was released on $25,000 unsecured bond, pending a preliminary hearing next week.
Snyder is "a very decent fellow, and feels horrible," according to defense attorney Bob Johnston.
"He's promised to appear for all the hearings, he has no prior criminal record, he's never been in trouble before and has been cooperative in the investigation," Johnston said.
Collin Hays said the restaurant where his brother worked is giving the family his paycheck and some extra money to help with funeral costs
