Police: Fayette City man was driving 118 mph before fatal I-70 crash in Rostraver

A Fayette City man was driving more than twice the speed limit on Interstate 70 in Rostraver when he caused a crash that killed another motorist, according to court papers.

State police said Jacob M. Posey, 23, was driving 118 mph when his Ram 2500 pickup slammed into a Toyota Camry. Two witnesses told police they tried to rescue Tori L. Demo, 25, of Allenport from the driver’s seat, but the car burst into flames.

Posey was arrested Friday. He is charged with homicide by vehicle and several summary vehicle code violations.

The crash was reported at 8:15 a.m. March 16 on the eastbound side of the highway between the Route 51 and Arnold City interchanges. A witness told investigators he was behind the pickup, which had black smoke blowing out of its exhaust, on nearby roads and saw it take off onto the highway and go around a bend.

Another witness said both the car and pickup were in the left lane as the pickup rapidly approached from behind, according to court papers. The car moved over into the right lane as the pickup attempted to pass it in the right lane and they collided, the witness said.

Posey told investigators the Camry cut him off. He wasn’t hurt. The speed limit is 55 mph, police said.

The pickup’s event date recorder showed it was traveling at 118 mph just before the crash, according to court papers.

“This collision was a result of the actions of the operator of the Ram 2500,” Trooper Matthew Moss wrote in a report. “The operator was traveling in an extreme excess of the speed limit prior to this collision.”

Posey’s attorney declined to comment Friday. He is free on $50,000 unsecured bail. A July 29 preliminary hearing is set.