Scottdale man charged with slamming truck into family's car on Mother's Day

A Scottdale man was driving at least 71 mph on Route 119 near Youngwood when his pickup slammed into a family's car as they drove to church on Mother's Day last year, seriously injuring all four, according to state police.

Matthew Marshall Murphy, 24, was arraigned Wednesday on three counts of aggravated assault by vehicle and additional charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment and traffic violations in the May 8 crash in Hempfield, just south of the borough.

Vicky and William Schuler of Scottdale and their sons, Gavin, 2, and Austin, 1, were heading north into Youngwood when their car was struck from behind and crushed by Murphy's pickup just after 10 a.m., police said.

During his arraignment, Murphy told Youngwood District Judge Anthony Bompiani he was headed to a relative's home to pick up picnic tables to take to Scottdale for a Mother's Day celebration when the crash occurred.

After Trooper Kimberly Zubovic testified that Murphy, a union carpenter, has cooperated during the nine-month investigation and has no prior criminal record, Bompiani agreed to allow him to remain free on $25,000 unsecured bond.

Bompiani warned Murphy that he must appear at all future court proceedings.

“Give me any reason, and I'll revoke this bond. The allegations contained in this complaint and the results are horrible. And you are to have no contact with the victims,” Bompiani said. He scheduled Murphy's preliminary hearing for March 7.

Murphy declined to talk to reporters as he left Bompiani's office.

“I don't have anything to say at this time,” he said.

The Schulers could not be reached for comment.

The state police accident reconstruction team determined that Murphy's Dodge Ram truck was traveling between 71 and 78 mph in a 35-mph zone when it slammed into the rear of the Schulers' 2011 Hyundai Elantra, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Zubovic.

“After the initial impact, (the Schulers' vehicle) proceeded in a northeasterly direction through the intersection with East Hills Street and struck a concrete barrier along the north edge of East Hillis Street. (The car) then rolled over multiple times before coming to rest on its roof in a grass lot on East Third Street,” Zubovic wrote.

The speed of Murphy's vehicle caught the attention of a bystander just before the crash, Zubovic wrote.

“Christopher Dini (said) he was standing on the sidewalk just outside the Sunoco having a coffee when he heard a diesel pickup truck traveling north on South Third Street. Dini (said) he threw his arms up in the air and stated, ‘Look at this (expletive)' when he saw how fast the pickup truck was traveling,” Zubovic wrote.

Dini told police that “no sooner did he finish his sentence than the front of the pickup truck ran into the back of the passenger car.”

Dini and others who ran to assist the Schulers said “they had to lift the roof of (the car) off the legs of an adult female lying next to the unit. ... There was also an adult male lying in the grass about 30 feet away,” Zubovic wrote.

Zubovic said witnesses told police Murphy's pickup entered the plaza parking lot where the Shop'n Save is located, side-swiped a parked vehicle, then stopped because of a broken axle.

Witnesses who checked on Murphy said he was “slumped to his right in the truck and appeared to be convulsing,” Zubovic said. One witness said Murphy was unresponsive and “appeared to be having a seizure.”

Zubovic questioned Murphy at the scene before he was flown to UPMC Presbyterian for treatment. He appeared “disoriented” and didn't recall the crash, she said in the affidavit. Murphy “denied having any medical history including but not limited to seizures,” she said.

Vicky Schuler, 29, had major back surgery that required insertion of pins and rods, family and friends said at a fundraiser last summer. “Will,” 34, who was thrown from the car, needed pins and rods in his right arm.

Austin was released from the hospital the day after the accident. Gavin, the most seriously injured, remained in the hospital until June 6. Family and friends said he was undergoing in-patient speech, physical and occupational therapies at the Children's Institute in Squirrel Hill last summer.

Community and church members have held numerous fundraisers for the family.

When the accident occurred, the Schulers were headed to Keystone Freewill Baptist Church in Greensburg, where they planned to meet family members for worship.

Pastor Nate Altom said Wednesday the couple has asked for privacy as the case makes its way through the court system.

Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. He can be reached at 724-850-2860 or ppeirce @ tribweb.com.