An Ohio man was charged with homicide by vehicle in connection with a fatal 2023 crash in Salem, police said.

Ricardo Hardy Jr., 23, of South Euclid, Ohio, was driving an sport utility vehicle that slammed into the back of a tri-axle truck, part of a three-vehicle crash July 25, 2023, on Route 22 near Route 819, police said.

A boy who was a passenger in Hardy’s Volkswagen was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died three days later, according to Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli’s office.

Hardy told police he believed his SUV hydroplaned prior to the crash, according to the DA’s release. Witnesses told state police, however, that the vehicle was speeding on Route 22 as Hardy approached the four-way intersection.

Troopers determined that Hardy was traveling at least 80 mph at the time of the crash and fire officials said the impact tore an axle off the truck and the motor out of the Volkswagen. The SUV overturned.

Ziccarelli said police arrested Hardy earlier this week.

He was charged with felony homicide by vehicle, three counts of reckless endangering, and several traffic violations.

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