Monroeville man pleads guilty to DUI-related crash that killed pedestrian
A Monroeville man whose car was filled with dozens of empty alcoholic drink containers when he was involved in a drunken-driving crash last year will serve at least two years in state prison after pleading guilty Monday to homicide by vehicle.
Braden Chetsko, 23, was ordered by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kelly Bigley to serve two to five years in prison to be followed by five years of probation.
He got credit for 30 days of inpatient treatment he completed after his arrest.
Police said Chetsko was driving on Monroeville’s Mosside Boulevard around 9:20 p.m. Sept 1, 2021, when he struck James Scandrick, 50, who was crossing the road but not at a crosswalk.
Scandrick died a short time later at UPMC East.
A criminal complaint said witnesses told police that Scandrick was struck by a white SUV. Shortly after first responders got to the scene, Chetsko called 911 and told them that he thought he hit something and had pulled over at the Twin Fountain Plaza on Monroeville Boulevard.
When officers arrived, Chetsko’s white Nissan Rogue had front-end damage. He smelled like alcohol and appeared to be impaired.
Police found dozens of empty alcohol bottles and cans in Chetsko’s vehicle.
In an interview with investigators, Chetsko said he started smoking marijuana when he woke up that morning and then started drinking alcohol — specifically Johny Bootleggers, an alcohol mixed to taste like cocktails with a 12% alcohol content.
Chetsko said he went to work around 3 p.m. and drank more there.
He told police that he returned home after getting off work at 7 p.m., but his father was there and he didn’t want him to know that he’d been drinking. Instead, he said he drove around aimlessly before he struck Scandrick.
Deputy District Attorney Kevin Chernosky said Chetsko’s blood-alcohol content measured at 0.127%. He also tested positive for marijuana.
Defense attorney Lyle Dresbold said he believes his client will benefit from a drug treatment program offered in prison.
There was no victim-impact testimony, and Chetsko did not speak on his own behalf.
“Anytime there’s an accidental death, especially a DUI-related death, it’s tragic,” Dresbold said.
Paula Reed Ward is a TribLive reporter covering federal and Allegheny County courts. She joined the Trib in 2020 after spending nearly 17 years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where she was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. She is the author of “Death by Cyanide.” She can be reached at pward@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.