Strong

BEDFORD — The Bedford County District Attorney’s Office was given two weeks to provide evidence including autopsy reports, medical records and first responder dispatch logs to the Public Defender’s Office in an October DUI crash that killed two.

Kaleb Lee Strong’s attorney Karen Hendershot filed the motion for the compel discovery hearing, which is a hearing to enforce the production of relevant information or evidence during a case’s discovery process.

During the hearing in Bedford County Court on Monday afternoon, Hendershot told President Judge Travis Livengood that she “had some footage and that’s it” in regards to case evidence.

“I don’t even have an initial report,” Hendershot said.

Altoona resident Strong, 20, is facing two felony counts each of homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while DUI and aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, as well as seven related misdemeanor counts. A single felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI count was dismissed during a preliminary hearing on Jan. 15.

The charges were filed Dec. 31, 2024, against Strong for his alleged involvement in the Oct. 27 crash that killed Altoona resident Keagahn Smith-Price, 16, and State College resident Kamren D. Martin, 22. Front seat passenger Tyler W. Young, of Tyrone, was also injured.

State police were dispatched to the scene of the wreck on Route 30 in East Providence Township, where Strong told officers he was driving when a deer ran in front of the vehicle. Strong said he swerved to miss the deer and lost control of the vehicle. While speaking, officers noted a faint odor of alcohol emanating from Strong.

Officers then interviewed Young, who said a car had cut in front of them as they were crossing over, causing them to spin out and run into the wall. The car then began to flip and spin, Young said, adding that he didn’t believe Smith-Price or Martin had their seatbelts on.

Due to the alcoholic beverage containers and the odor of alcohol emitting from Strong, a search warrant was conducted for Strong’s medical records. They revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.16, or double the legal limit, was detected. The blood alcohol content limit for drivers under 21 is 0.02.

In her motion, Hendershot requested Bedford County District Attorney Ashlan Clark provide her with the autopsy reports for Smith-Price and Martin, toxicology reports, medical records, surveillance footage from the nearby Sheetz, towing footage from the scene and first responder dispatch logs.

Clark told Livengood she didn’t have medical records for Young or toxicology reports for Young, Smith-Price and Martin. She also denied having footage from Sheetz or the tow truck that responded to the scene.

Hendershot questioned how unusual it was for police to “not run toxicology” on Young, Smith-Price and Martin, especially as Young had allegedly admitted to drinking that night, to which Clark said Smith-Price and Martin’s toxicology reports would most likely be included with their autopsy reports.

“I don’t even have search warrants,” Hendershot said in regards to her lack of evidence. “There are counts related to (Young’s) injuries in this case, so this is important.”

Clark asked for two weeks to obtain the first responder dispatch logs and until the end of the week to make copies of the other items Hendershot requested, which Livengood granted, as well as discovery for Young’s medical records.

Strong remains free after posting $150,000 bail on Jan. 13.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.