Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Standout wrestler charged in fatal crash
NORTH COVENTRY » A standout wrestler at Owen J. Roberts High School was charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI in connection with a violent one-vehicle crash in August.
Connor Quinn, 18, of Pottstown, was arrested this week for the fatal crash on Aug. 10 at 5:40 a.m. in the 1200 block of South Hanover Street in North Coventry Township.
Police said Quinn was transporting three other teens in a black Acura at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred.
When police arrived, they found Quinn to be pinned behind the steering wheel and he had to be extricated by first responders. His passenger, Benjamin Bulich, 18, of Spring City, was found sitting by the rear section of the vehicle and another teen, Louis Carbajal, 18, of Pottstown, was found lying on the ground and was unresponsive. Police administered first aid to Carbajal until relieved by Goodwill Ambulance Medics.
Police received information that a third passenger, Daniel Benasutti, 18, of Pottstown, had left the scene and was taken to Pottstown Hospital Tower Health by a third party. The three occupants at the scene were transported to the Reading Hospital Trauma Center with serious injuries.
Police said alcohol cans were observed in the Acura and Quinn
admitted that he had been drinking alcohol. Police obtained search warrants to inspect Acura and for all of the vehicle occupants’ medical records as well as blood samples taken from Quinn for toxicology analysis.
On Aug. 17, 2020, police were advised by the Berks County Coroner’s Office that Luis Carbajal died due to injuries sustained from the motor vehicle crash that occurred on Aug. 10. A review of the medical records indicated that all of the vehicle occupants, who are all under the age of 21, had consumed alcohol prior to the crash.
On Sept. 24, 2020, police received the toxicology report of Quinn’s blood samples. Quinn was found to have a 0.176 percent BAC at the time of the blood draw. On Aug. 10, the Chester County Serious Crash Accident Team (SCAT), responded to the crash scene to assist with reconstruction.
On-scene investigation revealed that the Acura was traveling north on South Hanover Street at a high rate of speed. The driver failed to negotiate a left curve in the roadway and due to driver steering, put the vehicle into a counterclockwise yaw (slide). The Acura continued to yaw north and east traveling partially off of the east side of the roadway and then north and west across the northbound lane.
Due to driver over-correction of steering, the vehicle was put into a clockwise yaw (slide). The Acura continued to travel north and west crossing over the southbound lane, off the west side of the roadway striking a utility pole No. 358 on the driver’s side, just behind the B pillar on the rear passenger door.
The Acura broke the utility pole at the base and the vehicle split in two, across the vehicle just behind the B pillar. The front of the Acura continued north and west through small trees and shrubs coming to rest facing north against a support wire of utility pole No. 356.
The rear section of the Acura traveled north and east crossing over both lanes of South Hanover Street, coming to rest in the driveway of 1214 S. Hanover St. The driver’s side rear seat passenger was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle as it split in two.
Based on tire evidence found at the scene, police determined that the Acura was traveling at a high rate of speed at the onset of the yaw marks.
On Nov. 4, the North Coventry Township Police obtained an arrest warrant for Connor Aidan Quinn, the driver. Quinn was charged of the following crimes: Homicide by Vehicle While DUI, Aggravated Assault by Vehicle While DUI, Homicide by Vehicle, Involuntary Manslaughter, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, DUI: Minor, Reckless Driving, Careless DrivingUnintentional Death, Careless Driving-Serious Bodily Injury, and Driving at Safe Speed.
Quinn surrendered himself to the North Coventry Township Police and arraigned and bail was set at $100,000 unsecured.
Passengers Daniel Benasutti and Benjamin Bulich were cited for transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverage.
A GoFundMe site set up for the four teens raised more than $13,000 but has since been taken down. A GoFundMe site to benefit the Carbajal family has raised $24,833 and is active at https://www.gofundme. com/f/23ntsl2elc?utm_ source=customer&utm_ campa ign=p_ cp+share-sheet& utm_ medium=copy_link_all.
Carbajal and Quinn were well-known for their successes with the wrestling programs at their respective schools.
Quinn primarily wrestled in the 160-pound weight class this season, posting a 34-5 record. He was a 160-pound champion in District 1-AAA North and South East AAA Regional tournaments, and placed fifth in the PIAA Class AAA Tournament. Quinn was selected as The Pottstown Mercury 2020 All-Area Wrestler of the Year. He had signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Appalachian University in Boone, N.C., to study biology.
Carbajal wrestled in the 195 and 220-pound weight classes for this past winter, compiling a 30-15 record. He was 195-pound runner-up in the District 1-AAA North and South East AAA Regional tournaments.
Carbajal capped his scholastic career with a first-time appearance in the PIAA Class AAA Tournament. He planned to attend Kutztown University to compete in wrestling and major in special education; he also indicated a desire to train for service in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Carbajal was a 2020 graduate of Spring-Ford High School and was accepted under scholarship to Kutztown University to study Elementary Education. He was an awardwinning wrestler, coming in eighth in Pennsylvania and first in the region. He was a PAC 10 champion in his weight class and a runner up in regional and district finals. Carbajal was a volunteer with special needs children at upper Providence Elementary.