The driver has been charged with hit-and-run murder News, Sports, Work

Lundin Trees, 17, was ejected and killed in the crash that happened around 4:09 a.m. Sunday in the 900 block of 10th Avenue Expressway. Although police have yet to officially release the name of the student who died, Treez has been identified by multiple sources and named as the victim on a GoFundMe page set up by her aunt, as well as on a cross and teddy bear left at the scene of the crash.

City police charged Jared Paul Detwiler, 19, of Altoona, with homicide by vehicle in the crash, according to online court records.

A warrant for Detwiler’s arrest will be served upon his release from the hospital, where he is being treated for injuries he sustained in the crash, including fractured vertebrae and a broken foot, according to the Altoona police Facebook page and probable cause affidavit.

Detwiler was driving a Dodge Ram 1500 truck in the far left lane of the expressway at its start near Ninth Street when the truck veered across the middle and right lanes and struck a brush, a tree, a utility pole and four cars in a parking lot. Green Avenue Towers — ejecting Detwiler and Treez, who was in the passenger seat.

A makeshift Lundin Trees memorial stands along the 900 block of the 10th Avenue Expressway Monday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waxmunski

According to the report, a 17-year-old passenger in the back seat got out of the truck unharmed.

Detwiler was sitting in a grassy area smelling of alcohol, slurred his speech and claimed he had swerved to avoid a car that cut him off when officers responding to the crash first encountered him, but later a review of tower security footage showed that “at no time did either vehicle turn in front of the defendant,” according to the affidavit.

Blood tests showed Detwiler’s blood-alcohol content was 0.218 percent, 2.7 times Pennsylvania’s legal limit of 0.08 percent for drivers over 21, according to information in the affidavit. The blood alcohol limit for drivers under 21 in Pennsylvania is 0.02 percent.

During the investigation, police learned that Detwiler was driving a truck owned by the grandmother of a 16-year-old witness who was at a college party on Grandview Avenue that night. The witness said the location was known as “Sigma” and they were there with other juveniles, including the victim. According to court documents, it was at the party that the minors met Detwiler.

According to court documents, the 16-year-old knew Detwiler from previous underage parties, including at Sigma, and gave Detwiler the keys to the truck before going to another party in Hollidaysburg.

A makeshift Lundin Trees memorial stands along the 900 block of the 10th Avenue Expressway Monday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waxmunski

Later, at the home on Coleridge Avenue where another 17-year-old lived, the 16-year-old and Trease were present when Detwiler showed up in a truck with another 17-year-old.

The 16-year-old and 17-year-old witnesses were outside when Detwiler arrived and told him he could not park in the driveway. Treez then left the residence and got into a truck with Detwiler and a 17-year-old passenger, the report said.

According to a 17-year-old juvenile who was riding in the back seat of the truck, Detwiler and Treez “were talking when they suddenly crashed.”

Witnesses, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, came to the scene after the crash as a result of information provided by the Life 360 ​​app, according to the affidavit.

According to Life 360’s website, this app “can detect large collisions and notify a circle of contacts.”

Lisa Kaiser, of Altoona, stands over a makeshift Landin-Trees memorial along the 900 block of the 10th Avenue Expressway Monday afternoon. Kayser’s daughters were former teammates from Threes two or three years ago. Mirror photo by Patrick Waxmunski

In addition to vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol, Detwiler is charged with vehicular homicide and aggravated assault, as well as a misdemeanor count of aggravated battery and recklessly endangering another person. , as well as summary charges of purchase of alcohol by a minor, failure to maintain lane and driving at a safe speed.

According to the protocol, the state police inspected the scene of the accident.

The AAHS girls soccer team was scheduled to play a sub-regional playoff game against Pittsburgh Taylor Allderdice High School in Allderdice on Monday, but the death of an Altoona player pushed the game to today at Mansion Park, according to the Altoona Area School District. County spokeswoman Paula Forman.

The district is grateful for the attention from another district, Forman said.

“Allderdice showed great sportsmanship … (great) understanding, concern and mutual concern,” Foreman said.

AASD athletic director Phil Ricco discussed options with the team after the crash, and the players felt “it’s important to continue to finish the season the best we can,” Foreman said.

But putting the game back a day and playing it at home, thus eliminating the need to travel and allowing for more support from fellow students, “makes it easier for our girls,” Foreman said.

Foreman said this game is a contest where the winner earns a spot in the official playoff bracket.

The school district is providing counseling and support at the middle school for any student or staff member who may need additional support during this time, Superintendent Brad Hatch said in a message to parents.

Mirror staff member William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.