Prosecutors in Lackawanna County have significantly upgraded the charges against 37-year-old Mark Castillo for his role in a fatal wrong-way collision on Interstate 380 earlier this month. Initially charged with homicide by vehicle, Castillo now faces a count of third-degree murder, along with aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and several counts of recklessly endangering another person. The charges stem from an 11:00 p.m. crash near Moscow on March 2, where investigators say Castillo was driving the wrong direction on the interstate and struck another vehicle head-on, killing one person and injuring three others.
New laboratory results released by the District Attorney’s office indicate that Castillo had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.186%, more than double the legal limit, and tested positive for cocaine and THC at the time of the crash. The decision to pursue a third-degree murder charge suggests that prosecutors believe his conduct demonstrated a "hardness of heart" and extreme indifference to human life. Castillo remains held without bail at the Lackawanna County Prison following his latest arraignment. A preliminary hearing to determine if the case will proceed to the Court of Common Pleas is currently scheduled for April 8.
