29 December 2022- New evidence shows that the Huntingdon County man allegedly behind the wheel during a deadly February crash in Franklin County was under the influence of a number of different drugs. Ben Allen Scott was arraigned today and is charged with felony homicide by vehicle while DUI, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor drug paraphernalia, and three separate misdemeanor counts of DUI, along with multiple traffic violations. Scott is free today on an unsecured bail of $75,000.
Full details of the crash can be found here, but according to police filings Scott looks to have been under the influence of a number of drugs at the time of the crash. According to police, Scott allegedly told them that he had fallen asleep at the wheel and struck the oncoming car, only waking up just before the collision. Scott also allegedly told police that he had used drugs prior to driving. Initial tests on Scott showed signs of impairment, as well as police finding a backpack full of THC wax, a THC vape pen, glass vial with suspected cocaine, a plastic vial with a white powdery substance, a glass pipe with suspected THC residue, and a metal tray with white and green residue.
The victim, Thomas Zinobile, was being prepped to be taken to a trauma center when it was determined that he should be taken to Chambersburg Hospital. Zinobile was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A blood draw was taken from Scott and was set to NMS Labs for analysis. The results of the blood draw allegedly found Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Delta-9 Carboxy THC, and Delta 9-THC in his system at the time of the crash.
Prior to receiving the blood analysis, police received a PSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Specialist report from the crash, showing that Scott’s actions were the sole reason for both the onset and severity of the crash.
Scott is free on an unsecured bail of $75,000. His preliminary hearing is set for February 28th of 2023.
Sources: Incident Number: PA 2022-232894, Docket Number: MJ-39303-CR-0000115-2022
