The driver in a single-vehicle crash that killed a Penn State student in September is now facing numerous charges, including homicide by vehicle.
Ferguson Township Police say Tyler J. Fasig, 22, of Leesport, was driving under the influence of alcohol at about 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 when he attempted to turn a Nissan Pathfinder left from Blue Course Drive onto North Atherton Street northbound and lost control of the vehicle. The SUV went over the curb and into grass, then began to spin sideways and ultimately rolled over.
Penn State student Byron Markle, 20, of York, was the passenger in the Pathfinder and was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a Centre County deputy coroner. An autopsy conducted by medical examiner Dr. Harry Kamerow determined the cause of death to be head trauma.
Fasig, who currently is listed as a student at the Penn State Berks campus, is charged with felony counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault and aggravated assault by vehicle. He was charged with misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, DUI and DUI with a high blood alcohol content. Fasig also received summary charges of reckless driving, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving resulting in an unintentional death, and careless driving.
According to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday, police spoke with Fasig at the scene and smelled a faint odor of alcohol coming from him. Fasig allegedly said he had one mixed drink earlier in the day.
An officer reportedly asked Fasig to accompany him to a nearby parking lot to conduct field sobriety tests and while they were walking Fasig ‘tripped on his own feet and stumbled before correcting himself,’ according to the complaint. Fasig then allegedly failed two of three sobriety tests.
Fasig submitted to a preliminary breath test that reportedly registered .199. After being placed under arrest for DUI, he was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for a blood test, which was conducted at 5:42 p.m. and sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Regional Laboratory. The sample registered a blood alcohol content of .169, according to court documents.
In the police car on the way to the hospital for the blood draw, Fasig allegedly said ‘Oh my god, I just killed my best friend.’
After being read his Miranda rights, Fasig allegedly admitted to having multiple drinks that day. Fasig told police that at some point he said he wanted to return to his apartment to pick something up and that Markle offered to drive him, according to the complaint. Fasig allegedly said Markle had taken numerous shots and shouldn’t drive, so Fasig said he felt OK and that he would drive Markle’s vehicle.
Fasig reportedly said that he took the turn from Blue Course onto North Atherton at 25 to 30 miles per hour and realized too late that he was going too fast. He said he had to take the turn too wide, jumped the curb and was headed toward a road sign, according to the complaint. He was fighting to get the SUV back on the road and it tipped on its side.
Police said video and the investigation confirmed that sequence of the crash.
Fasig was arraigned Wednesday afternoon before District Judge Ronald Horner and unsecured bail was set at $25,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25.
