Police probe hit-and-run accident
MASONTOWN – Masontown police are investigating a hit-and-run accident in which two people were struck by a vehicle Wednesday evening on West Church Street. Details of the accident and the identities of the victims were not available Wednesday. The victims were flown by STAT medical helicopter to West Virginia University Medical Center. Brownsville and Smithfield police assisted in the investigation. A suspect was reported to be in custody. He had not been arraigned as of press time. The accident occurred around 5:19 p.m.
While police were impounding the suspect’s vehicle on Tunnel Hill Road in Springhill Township at 6:45 p.m., another man, James E. Shartiger, 36, of Masontown attempted to gain access to the scene. According to police, Shartiger was told repeated to leave the scene, which he did. According to police, he returned a short while later and tried to push past an officer. When he was told he was under arrest, he pulled away from the officer and began fighting with another officer, pushing him into a car.
Brownsville, Masontown and Smithfield police eventually subdued the man.
Shartiger was arraigned before District Justice Mike Defino on charges of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. He was placed in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $2,500 straight bond. A preliminary hearing has been set for Monday at 10 a.m. before District Justice Randy Abraham.