Teen held at detention center in connection with fatal accident that took life of two, including standout lacrosse player

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/16/10

A 16-year-old Pottsgrove High student who allegedly was using marijuana and is charged with homicide in the deaths of two close schoolmates – one being lacrosse standout Andrew Case – in a car accident will continue be held in a Chester County juvenile detention facility while he awaits an adjudication hearing.

Juvenile Court special master Gregory Marshall on Friday agreed with the recommendation by a prosecutor and juvenile probation officer that Austin Ewers remain in the Chester County Youth Center because he had allegedly continued to use drugs and alcohol in the days following the Nov. 23 fatal crash.

Charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of a controlled substance, involuntary manslaughter, and recklessly endangering another person were filed against Ewers on Wednesday by East Coventry police in connection with the accident that claimed the lives of Case, 17, and Michael Cantamaglia, 16, of Barto, and injured three others.

Ewers, a member of the Pottsgrove High School’s powerhouse soccer team, has admitted using marijuana and drinking since the accident, authorities told Marshall at the Juvenile Services hearing Friday.

Juvenile Probation Officer Jason Akers said Ewers had tested positive for marijuana Wednesday after he was taken into custody by police at Pottsgrove High School.

At Friday’s hearing, Ewers told Marshall the accident and loss of his friend has troubled him greatly and that he has remained friendly with the families of the victims.

Case was a junior at Pottsgrove and had starred for the Falcons’ lacrosse team as well as the Pottstown Vipers (U-15) and the Philadelphia Youth Lacrosse Association (PYLA) as well as Team Philly.