Longtime News printer dies in Butler County crash | Local News
A New Castle man who was killed in a head on collision early Thursday morning in Butler County, had worked for the New Castle News as well as West Penn Printing.
According to the state police, James Barge, 65, who was driving the Toyota Corolla at the time of the accident, around 1:25 am, occurred near the Butler County Fairgrounds. According to state police, Kassandra Marie Clyde, 24, of Fombell drove east while Barge was heading west. Clyde’s Honda CRV then crossed the centerline and hit Barge’s vehicle head-on.
Clyde was reportedly seriously injured and transported to Allegheny General Hospital by Butler Ambulance Service. The police suspect that she was driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with the accident. Further investigation is pending.
The police said that both drivers wore their seat belts. Both vehicles had to be towed away.
Barge was a printer at the New Castle News for many decades. His father Russell D. Barge died on the 14th of May last year. The elder Barge was a printer for the New Castle News. He had worked there for 43 years.
James Barge had worked at Butler in recent years and was, according to reports, just days away his retirement.
Clyde was arrested in April of last year by Zelienople Police for driving under influence. She accepted an accelerated rehabilitation disposition for DUI charges. Butler County court records show that she finished the program by April 19 of this year. On Tuesday of this week, the district attorney’s of Butler County filed a request for expungement. However, no order has yet been issued. She will be presumed innocent until she is proven guilty by a judge or jury.
