PITTSBURGH — As a result of a Channel 11 News Investigation, a local lawmaker is proposing new legislation aimed at protecting Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable.
Channel 11’s Courtney Brennan’s investigation began in November after a Med-Van Transport driver was accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl whom he was transporting.
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According to police paperwork, the 13-year-old was taken to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown after she attempted to commit suicide. While there, the decision was made to transfer her to Southwood Psychiatric Hospital near Pittsburgh.
In order to transport her, the hospital called one of its contracted transport companies. According to police paperwork, a Med-Van Transport driver named Scott Weimer picked the medicated girl up at 2 a.m.
Police said Weimer drove the girl to Pittsburgh, but when he was only a few miles from Southwood Hospital, he pulled over to the side of the road and allegedly sexually assaulted her. An Upper St. Clair police officer discovered them.
"I was completely appalled by what happened,” State Rep. Dom Costa said.
During the course of her investigation, Brennan discovered that Weimer had been in trouble before. Police records revealed that he was charged with simple assault and harassment in 2013. He completed a program for first-time offenders.
"Your investigation prompted the Public Utility Commission to start investigating this now because they are looking at the van company to see if they've met all the requirements,” Costa said.
Brennan continued to investigate as well to find out why Med-Van allowed Weimer to drive patients and whether the company knew about his past.
James Smith, the president of MedVan Transport, declined to answer any questions.
A spokesman for the PUC, however, told Brenna that driver records and criminal background checks are required for medical transport drivers.
Costa said that's obviously not enough. Based on Brennan’s investigation, Costa has introduced legislation aimed at protecting some of the state’s most vulnerable.
"We're looking at legislation because of your reporting that would require a caretaker, a parent/guardian or someone to accompany any person with a disability or under an amount of medication that would enable them from making sound decisions,” Costa said.
The proposed legislation would close loopholes in the federal program that financed the 13-year-old girl's trip from Johnstown to Pittsburgh. Costa said the legislation would also require transport van companies to complete child clearance checks for their drivers and to share that information with hospitals.
"We have to protect our most vulnerable people and these people are the most vulnerable people that we can help,” Costa said.
Costa legislation will be introduced at the state Capitol on Monday. After it’s introduced, the legislation will either go to the Transportation or the Human Services Committee, which would then send it to the floor for a vote.
Channel 11 plans to follow the process over the next several months and will provide updates each step of the way.