A Washington County man has been charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and numerous other offenses in connection with a May 16 head-on crash in Mount Pleasant that killed two college students.

State police said Charles Wilson Cooper, 19, of Ridge Road, Robinson, was passing another car on Route 50 near Testa Road shortly after 2 a.m. when his car slammed into a pickup driven by Michael C. Pleskovich, 21, of McDonald.

Mr. Pleskovich and his passenger, Jenna L. Gilmore, 21, of Burgettstown, were pronounced dead at the scene. Both were students at Clarion University.

When troopers arrived at 2:20 a.m., according to an affidavit, they found the two students trapped in the pickup and Mr. Cooper sitting next to a tree near the road. Police said he told a trooper that he was trying to pass another car and didn't see the oncoming Pleskovich vehicle. He later told the trooper that he was driving 75 to 80 mph and had been drinking.

His blood-alcohol measured 0.025, according to the affidavit, above the 0.02 limit for drivers under 21.

Troopers said Mr. Cooper hit the brakes before the crash and left a 150-foot skid mark on the road.

The day after the crash, police said they received a call from Fort Cherry High School indicating that a girl there was telling people she had been in the car with Mr. Cooper. Troopers later talked with Julie Ann Gazvoda, 16, and Lori Ann Katrencik, 21, both of Robinson and both passengers in the car who told them Mr. Cooper was the driver.

A front-seat passenger was identified as Jesse M. Cleric, 24, of Mount Pleasant.

Troopers said the girls told them they had earlier left Mr. Cooper's house to pick up Mr. Cleric at Sputsy's, a bar in Avella, and were on their way to an Eat'n Park when the crash happened.

After the wreck, the two girls and Mr. Cleric walked away from the crash to Mr. Cleric's house.

Mr. Cooper was already in the Washington County Jail on a probation violation when troopers charged him Thursday. He will remain there pending a preliminary hearing next week.

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