Morning Roundup: Jeannette man sought in Swissvale crash

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, April 1:

Jeannette man sought in Swissvale crash

An arrest warrant was issued over the weekend for a Jeannette man accused of being impaired when he crashed into a backhoe in a construction zone in Swissvale.

The backhoe driver was seriously injured when he was thrown through protective glass and landed in the scoop of the backhoe, according to court papers.

Benjamin M. Hall, 33, was unresponsive in a car at the crash and police reported he was revived after an officer used Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal drug, according to court papers. There were stamp bags of drugs strewn all over the inside of the car, police said.

At around 10:30 a.m. March 19, a crew from Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority was working at the intersection of South Braddock and Shroyer avenues when the crash happened, according to borough police.

Witnesses told investigators the car Hall was driving was speeding on South Braddock Avenue and slammed into the backhoe without seeming to put on the brakes. Police reported they didn’t see any skid marks and the car was severely damaged.

Hall’s passenger told police they had recently used drugs. After Hall was revived, he was taken to a hospital, according to court papers. A blood test showed he had drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl, in his system, police said.

The water authority crew wasn’t able to continue working that day, police said.

Hall is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and related offenses.

2 W.Pa. counties eligible for disaster loans amid Baltimore bridge collapse

Two Western Pennsylvania counties are eligible for low-interest economic injury disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration as a result of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.

Small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Fayette and Somerset counties can apply for a loan of up to $2 million to help overcome any loss of revenue related to the March 26 collapse. The funding can be put toward normal operating expenses, such as payroll, according to the administration.

Interest rates range from 3.25% to 4%, depending on the type of organization applying. Those applications can be handled online at sba.gov/disaster. The disaster declaration covers all of Maryland, as well as contiguous counties in neighboring states.

Crews continue the process of removing the bridge’s wreckage from the river in Baltimore. Six people died in the collapse.

Pittsburgh man arrested in human trafficking probe

A Pittsburgh man is facing charges in Ohio after being arrested in connection with a human trafficking investigation, according to TribLive news partner WTAE.

Wesley Theberge, 29, was taken into custody in Columbiana County by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. Authorities said Theberge responded to an advertisement on a website promoting prostitution. They reportedly found him to be in possession of images and videos of child pornography.

He was being held at the Columbiana County Jail, according to WTAE.