A motions hearing is scheduled today for 42-year-old Larry Plovetsky of Black Lick, who is charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI for a November 2015 crash that took the life of a Black Lick woman. He’s also charged with felony accidents involving death or injury, plus related traffic offenses.
The crash at the intersection of Old William Penn Highway and Strangford Road happened when Plovetsky made a left turn and collided with a car driven by 80-year-old Clara Santus.
The case is complicated by several factors that emerged at Plovestky’s preliminary hearing. Even though he showed no signs of impairment and no field sobriety test was conducted, Plovetsky was advised by a state police supervisor to get a voluntary blood test, which he did about four hours after the crash at the Indiana Regional Medical Center. Plus, he was met at IRMC by a state trooper who advised him to sign a form regarding someone “under arrest” of consequences that might be incurred if he refused the test. He signed the form, but Plovetsky was not under arrest at the time. There is also a Supreme Court ruling regarding warrant-less breath tests, but not warrant-less blood tests that could come into consideration. The blood draw turned up evidence of marijuana, but at his preliminary hearing it was determined that the marijuana could have been in is system for days before the crash.
Plovetsky has a new attorney who has filed omnibus pretrial motions. Judge William Martin has scheduled the motions hearing for 8:30 this morning.
