City man arraigned in fatal DUI crash
Police: Tremmel admitted to drinking 3 to 4 beers earlier
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A city man is behind bars after being charged for a 2023 vehicle crash that killed his passenger.
William J. Tremmel, 43, was arraigned Saturday before Magisterial District Judge Andrew L. Blattenberger on two felony charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI along with misdemeanor charges of DUI, recklessly endangering another person, possession of drug paraphernalia and summary traffic violations.
Unable to post $250,000 bail, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison. His preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 2 before Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones.
According to court documents, Tremmel crashed his GMC Acadia into a concrete barrier on the 2500 block of Broad Avenue Alley about 8:24 p.m. March 16.
A man was found unresponsive in the passenger seat of the vehicle and police used life-
saving measures until AMED and the Altoona Fire Department arrived. The man was taken to UPMC Altoona then to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh.
The man died on March 18, police reported, noting the Allegheny County Coroner's Office did not perform an autopsy but said the passenger suffered blunt-force trauma caused by the vehicle accident.
Medical records from UPMC Altoona and UPMC Presbyterian showed the passenger sustained a spinal injury because of the crash, police stated.
Police said Tremmel, who was driving the GMC when the crash occurred, smelled of alcohol, slurred when speaking and had glassy, bloodshot eyes.
Police said Tremmel admitted to drinking three to four beers earlier in the evening.
A dash camera in Tremmel's vehicle showed the accident and the events leading up to it, according to court documents. Police said Tremmel was seen driving over lines on the roadway, almost hitting guardrails, driving into oncoming traffic and almost hitting a truck.
As Tremmel turned into the Broad Avenue Alley, the video showed he hit a retaining wall before accelerating and hitting the concrete barrier.
Tremmel was allegedly seen in the video trying to drive away from the crash and could be heard saying "wake up" to his passenger, police reported.