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Charges added in fatal Route 8 crash case

BUTLER TWP — A Mars woman is facing more charges in connection to a crash that killed a man at the intersection of Route 8 and Litman Road last month.

Julie Parison, 51, who was already charged with homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, reckless and careless driving, and driving at an unsafe speed after the June 6 crash, saw three counts of misdemeanor DUI added during a Thursday, July 6, court appearance, according to J.P. Kulzer, assistant district attorney.

She waived her right to a preliminary hearing before District Judge Kevin O’Donnell.

Parison’s charges stem from a June 6 crash that claimed the life of Kevin McAtee, 61, of Clinton Township.

Police said Parison, who was driving a Ford Fusion, struck a Chevrolet Trailblazer, where McAtee was a passenger. McAtee was pronounced dead at the scene, and three others — including Parison and Kevin’s wife, Karen — were taken to hospitals for injuries.

In court Thursday, the results of Parison’s blood test were also added to the criminal complaint. Kulzer said Parison’s blood alcohol content was 0.277% with traces of THC following the crash. In Pennsylvania, the legal limit for blood alcohol content is 0.08%.

The criminal complaint filed by Butler Township police reports Parison said she consumed four Four Loko drinks before driving that day.

On Thursday, medical personnel who responded to the June 6 crash offered condolences to Kevin’s family who were at the district judge’s office — his wife, Karen, and sons Dan and Eric.

Dan said he planned to attend every phase Parison’s court proceedings.

“I don’t think we feel hateful toward (Parison), but she has to pay,” he said.

“I don’t necessarily feel closure,” Eric said. “We took a step toward closure. Do I feel it? No.”

June 6 crash

Crews were initially dispatched at 6:46 p.m. June 6, for a report of an unconscious woman in a vehicle at North Washington and West New Castle streets. The woman, later identified as Parison, fled from first responders, driving the wrong way on West New Castle Street, according to documents.

Officers reported that during their high-speed pursuit of Parison’s vehicle, she drove through three red lights on Main Street, and continued across the General Richard Butler Bridge at a high rate of speed.

As she approached the Litman Road intersection, vehicles were stopped for the traffic light. Parison rear-ended the Trailblazer, driven by Karen McAtee, with Kevin McAtee as the passenger, police said.

The impact of the crash pushed the Trailblazer to the other side of the road, where it struck a guide rail and was then hit by a northbound Chevrolet Malibu driven by Richard Bothell, 59, of Butler, police said.

Six minutes after the initial report in the city — at 6:52 p.m. — emergency crews responded to a fatal crash.

The investigating officers said Parison showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and pinpoint pupils. In addition, police said a strong odor of alcohol was emanating from her breath.

Charging documents show Parison told police, “she knew she was in a bad place” when she approached the intersection.

Parison’s formal arraignment will be Aug. 21 in Butler County Court of Common Pleas.

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