A Chinese immigrant from Maryland was ordered this morning to stand trial for vehicular homicide for driving the wrong way on I-279 en route to the Three Rivers Arts Festival and crashing his vehicle head-on into a Green Tree driver.
Yangdon Wang, 57, of Crownsville, Md., is accused of killing Kenneth A. Blobner, 55, on shortly before 5 a.m. June 6, 2008 on the northbound side of I-279 between the Chestnut and Hazlett street exits near the ramp from Route 28 to the Veterans Bridge in the North Side. He was charged in connection the accident in July.
Police said Wang missed his exit and ended up going the wrong direction on the highway.
After a preliminary hearing in Pittsburgh Municipal Court, District Judge Oscar Petite ordered Wang to stand trial of charges of vehicular homicide, involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and other driving offenses.
Wang's attorney Bernie Tully said the situation was tragic.
"It's an absolute tragedy but it was dark and there were no signs. My client was going to the arts fest and he got confused. He's not from here," Tully said. "There was no alcohol involved."
