Suspended Pa. trooper pleads to fatal DUI

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A suspended Pennsylvania state trooper has pleaded no contest to charges that he drove while intoxicated and killed a man.

The Erie Times-News reports that 36-year-old Jeffrey Dalessandro pleaded on Monday to second-degree felony homicide by vehicle while DUI and a misdemeanor count of DUI.

Authorities say that Dalessandro was drunk when his pickup crossed into oncoming traffic in Union Township in Feb. 2012 and hit a sport utility vehicle, killing 21-year-old Daryl Nunemaker.

Dalessandro had been a trooper for nine years and worked out of Troop B in Pittsburgh. Authorities say he’ll be terminated now.

In exchange for Dalessandro’s plea the prosecution dropped a misdemeanor count of involuntary manslaughter and counts of careless and reckless driving.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 25.