Washington Woman To Stand Trial For Fatal Crash

A Washington woman charged in an August 2023 accident on Interstate 79 that took the life of a New York man faced her preliminary hearing on Monday. Rachel Phillips, 35 is accused of killing 58 year old Gary Reinhardt of Lancaster, New York. Witness testimony from Mindy Burgess recalled how Phillps passed her on I-79 North going faster than the 65 miles per hour that she was travelling. She stated that Phillips’ SUV drifted into the right shoulder of the road and dramatically swerved left and crossed two lanes of traffic and the median before striking Reinhardt’s vehicle, killing him and causing the wreckage of two other vehicles. First responder testimony reported the odor of alcohol inside Phillips’ car while they extricated her and the presence of several unopened cans containing alcohol. After being flown to a Pittsburgh hospital, Phillips’ had a blood draw that showed no alcohol but did show marijuana and cocaine in her system. All charges were held for court, Phillips is facing homicide by vehicle and reckless endangerment charges among others. Phillips is free on $175,000 bond.