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Weirton man faces vehicular homicide charge in health center crash

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Vehicle hits Neighbor Health Center

Observer-Reporter

Emergency personnel on the scene after a vehicle struck a building at Neighbor Health Center, 95 Leonard Ave., in June, killing one woman and injuring two others.

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Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

A Weirton man has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with this June crash at Neighbor Health Center in Washington.

A Weirton man has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with a June 6 incident in which his Jeep Liberty plowed into a building at Neighbor Health Center on Leonard Avenue in Washington, killing an Amwell Township woman.

Chad Spence, 44, also faces charges that include aggravated assault by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving.

Police said video surveillance showed Spence’s vehicle accelerated rapidly, and that he took no evasive action before the Jeep hit the building. Killed in the incident was Kimberly Dollard, 57, who worked in the building.

Also injured in the crash was David Adams, 43, of McDonald, who was inside the health center. He was taken to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh.

According to the arrest affidavit, police determined the vehicle did not experience any mechanical malfunction, and medical records from Washington Hospital following the accident show Spence had no medical condition or impairment that would have been factors in the accident.

Over several interviews, Spence told police he had driven to Washington to attend a doctor’s appointment at a suboxone clinic on Locust Avenue, but that he does not recall what occurred from the time he stopped on Sharp Avenue until he was inside the building following the crash.

According to an accident reconstructionist, Spence was driving his Jeep at least 40 miles an hour at impact. The vehicle traveled 40 feet through the air before crashing into the building and traveling another 31 feet.

Video surveillance shows Spence sat at the top of the hill on Sharp Avenue for about 2 minutes and 45 seconds, causing several vehicles to drive around him.

Spence has not yet been taken into custody.

Staff writer Karen Mansfield contributed to this story.

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