JOHNSTOWN, PA — A 19-year-old woman is facing multiple charges after Pennsylvania State Police said she was drunk, high and driving without a license when a crash in Cambria County killed a 17-year-old passenger.
Troopers said the wreck happened shortly after 5 a.m. on April 4 on Beaver Valley Road in Clearfield Township. Investigators said the car, a Nissan Rogue, failed to navigate a curve and struck a tree.
Police said four people were inside the vehicle. One was pronounced dead at the scene, and another suffered serious injuries.
Troopers say the driver was behind the wheel, not a passenger
Pennsylvania State Police said investigators initially were told a different person had been driving. Later, they determined that Abigail Socie was the one operating the vehicle at the time of the crash.
According to troopers, Socie was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana and did not have a valid driver’s license. The charges announced Friday include homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, and accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed.
She also faces additional misdemeanor counts tied to the crash. Police did not say how the injuries to the other passengers are expected to affect the case.
Teen victim identified as Glendale student and football player
The teenager killed in the crash was identified by the Glendale School District as 17-year-old Carter Gallaher. His obituary described him as the class president and a varsity football player.
The obituary also said he loved the outdoors, fishing and music. Those details came as the community learned more about the young man killed in the wreck.
Police have not released additional information about the other people in the vehicle beyond saying one was seriously injured. The crash has left one family grieving and another person facing serious criminal allegations.
Arraignment leads to jail stay ahead of preliminary hearing
Socie was arraigned on Friday and was remanded to Cambria County Prison in lieu of 10% of $150,000 monetary bail. Court records show she remains in custody unless that bail condition is met.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20. The court date will be the next step in the case as prosecutors move forward with the charges announced by state police.
Authorities have not publicly detailed what led to the confusion over who was driving before investigators sorted out the crash sequence. The case now centers on impairment, licensing and the deadly outcome on a rural road in Clearfield Township.
What police say happened on Beaver Valley Road
According to state police, the Nissan Rogue left the road after Socie failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle then hit a tree in the early morning darkness.
Crashes involving alcohol, drugs and unlicensed driving often lead to severe charges when someone dies or is badly hurt. In this case, troopers say all three factors were present and played a role in the deadly collision.
The investigation also shows how quickly a rural roadway crash can turn fatal when speed, impairment or inattention combine. Police have not said whether other agencies or crash reconstruction specialists were involved.
Charges carry serious penalties as the case moves through court
The homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence charge is among the most serious in the case. Prosecutors also added an aggravated assault by vehicle DUI count because another person was seriously injured in the crash.
Socie’s lack of a valid driver’s license adds another layer to the allegations. Troopers said she was allegedly behind the wheel while impaired by both alcohol and marijuana.
The criminal case remains at an early stage, and any final outcome will depend on court proceedings, evidence and testimony. For now, the state police announcement marks the first public step in a case that grew out of a deadly spring crash in Cambria County.
