Published: July 25, 2008 11:49 pm      

Driver charged in crash

EBENSBURG — State police said late Friday that the driver of a pickup in a Portage wreck that claimed the lives of four young adults will be charged with DUI and speeding.

Charges against James E. Gaunt, 34, of Portage will be filed Monday at the Portage office of District Judge Galen Decort, police said. Gaunt also faces an insurance count.

The major fault, police said, still lies with the driver of the Chevy Cavalier in which all four of the deceased men were riding.

“(Richard) McKrush would have faced counts of vehicular homicide, DUI and speeding had he survived,” Trooper Chad Albert said.

McKrush was driving his car in the middle of the narrow lane as he sped along Shady Spring Road in Portage Township on July 13, Albert said.

The vehicles crashed head on.

Even had Gaunt been sober, the horrific accident could not have been avoided, the trooper said.

“There was no time to react,” he said.

A fifth man in the McKrush vehicle was seriously injured.

Gaunt and passenger Bernice A. Gillette, 30, of Portage, suffered major injuries.

Another passenger in his truck, Johnny A. Lauver, 29, of Portage, sustained moderate injury.

In addition to McKrush, 22, others who died in the accident were Ryan Zunich, 26; Joseph “Gordo” Krug, 25, and Eric Secriskey, 25. All were from Portage.