Washington County man charged following ATV accident
A Washington County man was charged with aggravated assault by vehicle and DUI following an ATV accident that injured another person in August in West Bethlehem Township.
State police filed charges against Justin Earl Beiswenger, 25, of Washington including aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, DUI and multiple traffic summary violations last month. Beiswenger was arraigned last week, when details of the complaint were released.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Beiswenger was operating a Polaris RZR ATV that crashed into a guide rail along Lone Pine Road in the township around 4:53 p.m. Aug. 18.
As police approached the accident scene, they saw Beiswenger standing over his passenger, Austin Mitchell Strawn.
Police said Strawn was seriously injured in the crash and was flown for treatment of his injuries.
Police observed multiple beer cans around the ATV and one in the back of the ATV.
Beiswenger smelled of alcohol, police alleged, and told police he had a couple of beers earlier in the day. He reportedly told responding officers they were coming around the bend on the ATV too fast and when it flipped on its side and rolled.
Beiswenger’s ATV was not registered to be operated on the roadway and Beiswenger didn’t have insurance.
Beiswenger was also transported for treatment and refused a blood-alcohol test, police said.
A search warrant was issued for Beiswenger’s medical records where the blood-alcohol content showed .147 percent, which is over the legal limit of .08 for Pennsylvania drivers.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 24 before Magisterial District Judge Curtis Thompson.
Beiswenger is free on non-monetary bail.