Mill Hall man charged with homicide while DUI in fatal 2021 Penns Valley car crash

BELLEFONTE, PA – Rockview state police have charged a Mill Hall man with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence in connection with a one-vehicle crash that ended in the death of his female passenger from Mill Hall in Penns Valley last summer.

Charges were filed Thursday against Travis L. Bennett, 29. The police affidavit of probable cause said a blood test showed that Bennett was under the influence of amphetamine and methamphetamine at the time of the Aug. 18, 2021 crash on Route 45 (Penns Valley Road) in Haines Township.

The police report at the time said Bennett was traveling westbound when his vehicle left the highway and struck several trees and became airborne.

Victim in the crash was the passenger, Hali Harpster, 25, from Mill Hall. Authorities said she died while enroute to a hospital from crash injuries.

Bennett sustained minor injuries in the crash. He told investigating officers he could not account for why his vehicle left the highway and, police alleged, he displayed signs of impairment and and said he was using Aderall.

Police said a search of the crash site found a glass container with suspected methamphetamine and a glass smoking device.

According to the police affidavit, “The cause of the crash was determined to be Bennett’s impairment due to the vehicle drifting off the roadway and no corrective measures were taken, resulting in the crash.”

Bennett has also been charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, DUI, recklessly endangering another person, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, along with four traffic offenses.

The Mill Hall man was arraigned Thursday before Centre County District Judge Gregory Koehle and could not post $350,000 bail. A preliminary court hearing was set for June 15.