Man faces charges in mountain crash
A Markleysburg man is facing several charges after he allegedly crashed his car while driving while intoxicated in April, injuring four passengers. State police Trooper Robert W. McGarvey said Brandon Lee Anderson, 19, of 328 Braddock Road was charged Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Wendy D. Dennis with aggravated assault by vehicle, drunken driving, driving under the influence of alcohol while underage, and eight traffic-relate violations.
McGarvey said that the crash occurred on Dinner Bell-Five Forks Road in Wharton Township at 3:40 a.m. April 25.
He said that Anderson was traveling northbound when he lost control of his 1997 Ford Probe and it traveled across the southbound lane and over an embankment.
McGarvey said the car then struck a tree causing the vehicle’s rear end to fly into the air and the roof of the car to strike the tree before falling back down.
Passengers Samantha Ames, 17, Anthony Perine, 19, and Chasidy Pritts, 17, no addresses available, each suffered serious injuries in the crash and were subsequently flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., for treatment, McGarvey said.
A fourth passenger, Corey Calhoun, 17, no address available, also suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Uniontown Hospital.
Additionally, Anderson was flown to Ruby Memorial for treatment of serious injuries, McGarvey said.
The group was apparently on their way home from a bonfire where they had consumed alcoholic beverages, McGarvey said. McGarvey said he found a full beer can inside the car and a half-empty bottle of vodka on the rear passenger seat.
A preliminary hearing will be held at a later date before Dennis.