A Milesburg man was charged with killing his wife through the use of a car, among other charges Monday morning, the State College Police Department said.
David Bartley, 49, crashed his wife’s 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee on July 3 along the 1000 Block of Benner Pike heading toward State College, resulting in the death of his wife, Susan Bartley, 43, of Milesburg, police said.
Susan Bartley was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The Jeep had significant damage to its right — or passenger — side, while the left side of the vehicle sustained little damage, police said.
Initially, Bartley told police he was the passenger in the car and that his wife swerved and hit the telephone pole to avoid hitting a vehicle that had pulled out in front of them, police said.
Witnesses told police that they had seen a man driving that morning and that Bartley’s wife was found partially ejected from the passenger side of the Jeep when they arrived at the scene, police said.
As the investigation progressed over the past months, police said Bartley later confessed that he had been driving the vehicle. Police said Bartley told them his wife had not been feeling well and asked him to drive.
Bartley was also found to be under the influence of alprazolam — a drug used to treat anxiety disorders — and oxycodone the morning of July 3, police said. His charges include driving under the influence, police said.
Witnesses told police that there were no other vehicles causing a hazard during the morning of the crash, though Bartley told police he swerved the car to avoid a crash in the center of the road, police said.
Bartley is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed and driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, police said.
He is also charged with false reports to law enforcement authorities, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, driving without a valid license, following too closely and driving on roadways laned for traffic and reckless driving, police said.
Three of Bartley’s charges are considered felonies, police said.
