Monessen man accused of leading state police on high-speed chase
A Monessen man is accused of leading state police on a high-speed chase Monday night before crashing into another car in Rostraver Township.
State police said Nikolas David Friedline was speeding while driving east on Interstate 70 near the Charleroi/Allenport exit in Speers Borough shortly after 5 p.m., prompting a trooper stationed at the interchange to initiate a traffic stop.
Friedline continued driving east, crossing into Westmoreland County and drove on the right shoulder of the interstate trying to pass other vehicles, police said. He eventually exited the highway at the Donora/Fayette City interchange in Rostraver Township and began driving north on Route 201, police said.
Police said Friedline passed other vehicles using the oncoming lane and reached speeds of more than 80 mph in an area of the roadway with a speed limit of 35 mph. He eventually struck another vehicle driven by a 23-year-old Elizabeth woman who was traveling on Route 201 near Iron City Hill Road, according to court documents.
Friedline’s vehicle then traveled through a field and behind several houses before coming out on Iron City Hill Road, where he finally stopped his car for the pursuing troopers, police said. Troopers pulled Friedline from his vehicle and he allegedly admitted to them that “he should’ve just stopped and did not know why he did that,” according to the charging documents.
Friedline, 34, was charged with one felony count of fleeing police and a misdemeanor charge of accident involving damage, along with several traffic citations. He was arraigned Monday night by District Judge Lou McQuillian, who released him on $10,000 unsecured bond.
Police did not say if the other motorist was injured or the extent of the damage to her vehicle.