A man believed to be responsible for the death of a Ligonier police officer’s death after he drove the wrong way on Route 30 while under the influence of alcohol offered a tearful apology at his arraignment in court last week.

According to court documents, Clair Fink, 32, of Ligonier, was taken to the Westmoreland County Prison after his arraignment before a district judge in Derry Township.

Fink has been charged with third degree murder, homicide by vehicle and driving while under the influence of alcohol and other related offenses.

Trooper Eslary, 40, was on patrol in a marked SUV on Route 30 westbound near the Idlewild park entrance around 2 a.m. May 5th when he was struck by a wrong-way driver investigators identified as Fink.

When Fink’s blood was drawn at the hospital, test results showed that he had a blood alcohol level of 0.197 percent — more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Because his actions resulted in the death of another, Clair Fink now faces various charges including third degree murder and homicide by vehicle. Not only are there criminal charges involved in this case, but he and his family face civil liabilities as well.

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