By Jonathan D. Silver
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
MONROEVILLE, Pa. — A Monroeville fire chief confirmed Wednesday that he learned several months ago that one of his members was involved in a traffic accident in Blair County that killed a woman, but he allowed the man to keep driving an ambulance because no charges had been filed.
That was the case until last week, when Tarence M. Mosey’s driving privileges were suspended after Monroeville officials found out that charges might “quite possibly” be filed in the fatality — and after they learned that Mr. Mosey was charged Aug. 26 with DUI in a separate incident, also in Blair County.
Chief Scott Feyes, who oversees Monroeville EMS Inc. and Monroeville Volunteer Fire Company #4, said Wednesday he had learned of the DUI only after the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette began asking questions about it Sept. 14. He said he suspended Mr. Mosey’s driving privileges Sept. 16 after verifying information about the DUI case.
Monroeville Manager Timothy Little said a tipping point in the decision to bar Mr. Mosey from driving an ambulance occurred when one of his fellow firefighters — Monroeville police Chief K. Douglas Cole — made inquiries and learned of the potential for criminal charges to be filed in the accident that killed a pregnant 29-year-old woman.
“We looked into it further, found out that quite possibly he may be charged, and that was about last Wednesday. And at that point he was not allowed to drive,” Mr. Little said earlier this week.
The fatality remains under investigation, according to the Logan Township Police Department and the Blair County District Attorney’s office. Neither agency indicated whether Mr. Mosey would be charged in the May 27 incident, which occurred around 3 a.m. on a bridge just outside Altoona. Logan police Chief Timothy Mercer said the victim, Brandyn Boyd, had gotten out of her vehicle, which was stopped on the bridge, when she was struck by Mr. Mosey’s Jeep Cherokee.
Chief Feyes said that after hearing about the incident, he was initially uneasy about Mr. Mosey driving an ambulance, but he did not revoke his driving privileges, especially after Mr. Mosey presented a letter from his attorney in late June stating that there were no pending charges. Chief Feyes said he “assumed” that the incident was under investigation by police but acknowledged that he took no steps to verify that.
“We really couldn’t take any action against him or stop him from doing anything because he had no pending charges. His driving record was clean. And he produced a valid driver’s license that wasn’t under suspension. We had no reason to stop him from operating as a volunteer firefighter and EMT,” Chief Feyes said.
“If the law says he’s allowed to drive a vehicle, who are we as a fire department to say, ‘Well, no, maybe you shouldn’t drive a vehicle.’ So put yourself in that position,” Chief Feyes said. “If the commonwealth of Pennsylvania allows him to drive, and he has a valid driver’s license in this state, but we say, ‘You can’t drive because we think you shouldn’t be driving,’ that puts us in a legal compromise.”
Mr. Mosey, 22, studied at the Community College of Allegheny County in 2012. Although his permanent address is in Altoona, he lived at the #4 fire house, volunteering as a firefighter and getting free lodging. Chief Feyes described Mr. Mosey as “cordial” “respectful” and a member in good standing.
At some point, Chief Feyes said, Mr. Mosey began working in a paid capacity as an EMT and ambulance driver in the community of 28,000. Mr. Mosey had previous experience driving ambulances, said the chief, who added that the final decision on who can drive — something that is a privilege, not a right of employment — is his. The chief said Mr. Mosey passed an emergency vehicle operator’s course.
However, the state Department of Health said Mr. Mosey does not have EMS vehicle operator certification, which is required to drive an ambulance in Pennsylvania.
“Operating an EMS vehicle without an EMSVO is a violation of the EMS System Act,” health department spokesman Wesley Culp said.
“I am unaware that that is a law in the state of Pennsylvania,” Chief Feyes said. “I was not aware that Tarence Mosey did not have the EMSVO certification.”
Chief Feyes said he did not consult with any lawyer about his decision to permit Mr. Mosey to continue driving but instead discussed the situation with the fire company’s executive board. Chief Feyes also said that he did not attempt to contact police or prosecutors in Blair County.
On Tuesday Mr. Mosey waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of driving under the influence, careless driving and driving without lights to avoid identification or arrest. He went to jail after being unable to post bond. District Judge Fred Miller imposed a series of conditions on Mr. Mosey, including forbidding him from driving.
Neither Mr. Mosey nor his attorney could be reached for comment.
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