State police upgraded the charges against a 37-year-old Throop man who troopers said caused a fatal wrong-way crash Feb. 27 on Interstate 380 while driving under the influence.

Police charged Mark Castillo on Wednesday with third-degree murder, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, recklessly endangering another person and related counts.

Castillo’s blood alcohol level was 0.186%, according to a criminal complaint. In Pennsylvania, the legal limit for driving is 0.08%.

Cocaine and THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana, were also present in Castillo’s blood at the time of the crash, police said.

Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said the circumstances surrounding the crash led to the upgraded charges.

“It’s very rare to charge third-degree murder in a homicide by vehicle case, however this case presents factors that demonstrate an extreme indifference to the value of human life,” he said.

While traveling to the scene, troopers were informed a wrong-way driver had crashed a black Kia Sorento into a white Chevrolet Cruze that was traveling in the correct direction on the interstate in Covington Twp., police said.

A passenger in the vehicle Castillo hit, Darrel Ambrose Jr., 24, of Tobyhanna, died from severe head trauma, according to Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland. Three additional people from that vehicle were transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center, police said.

Police said Castillo — who was driving with a suspended license from a previous DUI offense — had three prior convictions for DUI within the last 10 years.

Castillo admitted being at fault for the crash and said several times that he messed up, police said. Troopers also detected an odor of alcohol coming from Castillo.

During his arraignment, Castillo told a deputy sheriff that he drove as fast as he could in the wrong direction to see what would happen, police said.

Through the investigation, police learned Castillo was traveling at 103 mph when his vehicle crashed into the Cruze, according to a criminal complaint.

A previous criminal complaint in which police charged Castillo with homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault while DUI and related counts was withdrawn, court records show.

Castillo remains in Lackawanna County Prison without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 8 at 10:15 a.m.