A Beaver County man is in Butler County Prison facing charges in a fatal traffic accident Sunday in Cranberry Township. Police allege he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Darren Michael Martin, 34, of Aliquippa, was arrested following the three-vehicle crash that occurred shortly after 2 p.m. at the intersection of Route 19 and Ehrman Road.

Township police charged Martin with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, his third DUI offense, recklessly endangering another person and traffic citations for failing to stop at a red light and reckless driving. He is being held in the county prison in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Several witnesses told police that a man, later identified as Martin, was driving a Ford E-450 U-Haul truck north on Route 19 when he drove through a red light at a high rate of speed at hit two other vehicles, police said in an affidavit.

The driver of one of the other vehicles was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Police have not identified the driver or others involved in the accident.

Witnesses also reported to police that the truck made a “careless” U-turn at the intersection of Route 19 and American Way, proceeded to travel north on Route 19 and ran a red light at the intersection of Route 19 and North Boundary Road just before the crash, police said.

An officer reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol coming from Martin and said Martin performed poorly on field sobriety tests. A preliminary breath test that Martin took indicated the presence of alcohol, police said.

A police sergeant who serves as a drug recognition expert also conducted field sobriety tests and noted the possible presence of a drug because Martin had constricted pupils, police said. Martin did not consent to a blood test, so a search warrant was obtained for a blood test at a hospital, police said. The blood was sent to a lab for alcohol and drug tests.

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