Trial Begins for Tarentum Man Charged in Fatal Ross DUI

A Tarentum man goes on trial today on charges he was driving drunk when he crashed his car in on Super Bowl Sunday, killing his girlfriend, who was a passenger in his vehicle. 

Brett Saltrick, 21, is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, and DUI in connection with the Feb 6, 2011 accident on Thompson Run Road. 

Bryanna Riedel, 21, of Wheeling, WV, was critically injured in the accident and died two days later. She was a Duquesne University pharmacy student, WPXI TV reported. 

Ross police say Saltrick lost control of his vehicle, and struck another headed the opposite way. The driver and passengers of the other vehicle were not seriously hurt. 

Ross police said the combination of speed and alcohol resulted in the crash. 

"In this one, speed was definitely one of the factors. The fact that he was drinking was also one of factors for the collision," Ross Township Police Det. Brian Kohlhepp told WPXI. 

Saltrick's blood alcohol level was .168 at the time of the accident, according to police.

The charge of vehicular homicide while under the influence carries a mandatory 3 to 6 years in prison. 

“It’s going to be our contention that speed was a factor and there’s no evidence that the consumption of alcohol was a factor; but regardless, no matter what happens, this boy is going to be convicted of something,” Saltrick’s attorney, Robert Stewart, told KDKA after a preliminary hearing in June of last year.

“There is certainly a teaching point from this to people, especially young people, about driving fast, especially on winding roads, and about driving under the influence of alcohol,” said Det. Kohlhepp. 

Keeping up with news in the North Hills is easy—simply sign up for our daily email newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.