A Smicksburg man was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to homicide by vehicle while DUI for an incident in 2021.
Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi announced that 36-year-old Joshua Brink of Smicksburg was ordered to serve seven to 14 years in prison along with a year of probation for his plea. The incident goes back to August 27th of 2021. Brink spent about two hours drinking multiple beverages at a bar and purchased a six-pack to go. Brink failed to negotiate a minor curve in the road cleanly and he overcorrected, going into a front yard and killing Douglas Dalessio who was mowing the lawn at the time. As the family attempted life-saving measures, Brink reportedly apologized to the family then fled into the woods. State police eventually found him and drove him back to the crash site where the family positively identified him. A legal blood draw showed his blood alcohol level was .254 and there was also the presence of drugs in his system.
In a statement, DA Manzi said that “Every person who goes out to have a drink has the responsibility to the community and themselves to have a sober ride home. Once a horrible event like this happens, there is no changing it.” He also thanked the State Police for their thorough investigation.
