Police say drugs found in system

By Jim Smith

Eagle Staff Writer

A Butler Township man was arrested twice on the same day — about three miles apart — for driving on drugs in the same car.

Toxicology results also showed Gary R. Koval, 38, of Butler had some of the same drugs — including fentanyl and a derivative of cocaine — in his system in each incident Feb. 12, authorities said.

Butler Township police Tuesday charged Koval with driving under the influence of a controlled substance and several traffic violations stemming from a one-vehicle crash on North Duffy Road.

He allegedly lost control of his Hyundai Elantra about 8:25 p.m. and crashed into a fence at a home, police said. He was not injured and blamed the accident on snow on the road.

Damage to the fence was estimated at $5,700.

Police subsequently took Koval to Butler Memorial Hospital for a blood draw. Lab tests, according to charging documents, indicated he tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine; the opioid fentanyl; and norfentanyl, a metabolite of fentanyl.

Earlier that day, about 1:15 a.m., state police pulled over Koval for having a burned-out brake light on the Hyundai while traveling on Mercer Street in Butler. A blood test later found he had benzoylecgonine, fentanyl and norfentanyl in his system, police said.

Additionally, he tested positive for the prescription drugs paroxetine, an antidepressant, and hydroxyzine, an antihistamine.

On March 10, police charged him with driving under the influence of a controlled substance and several traffic violations.

His preliminary hearing in each case was not immediately scheduled. Online court records did not list an attorney for him, and he could not be reached for comment.