Police say deer
distracted driver
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - A deer along a road caused a driver to become distracted, travel off the road and strike a tree at 9:27 a.m. Friday, police said.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Ryan E. Dreher, 26, of Schuylkill Haven, was driving a 2009 Dodge Ram east on Deiberts Valley Road when he noticed a deer on the north berm of the road. Thinking the deer was going to go into the road, Dreher became distracted and traveled onto the south berm of the road and hit a tree with the right front of the car, police said. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
Dreher was charged with failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, police said.
Bicyclist injured
in Rt. 61 crash
A bicyclist was taken to the hospital after he was hit by a motorist Thursday evening on Route 61, Claude A. Lord Boulevard, about 180 feet south of Tunnel Road, in Norwegian Township, police said.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Frank L. Pugh, 58, of Saint Clair, was riding a bicycle at 6 p.m. on Route 61 north in the right travel lane when his bicycle was hit in the back by Patrice A. Gangemi, 39, of Pottsville, who was driving a 2014 Volkswagen Eos Tsi.
The impact caused Pugh to hit the windshield after flying backward and fall to the ground. Gangemi, who was wearing a seat belt and was not injured, stopped at a nearby parking lot after the accident, police said.
Police said Pugh was wearing dark clothing and did not have proper lighting on the bike. Pugh was charged with lighting violations, police said.
Man not injured
in 1-vehicle crash
FRACKVILLE - A Shenandoah man was not injured in a one-vehicle crash at 9:20 a.m. Saturday on Route 61 about 1 1/2 miles from the Schuylkill Mall ramp in Blythe Township, police said.
State police at Frackville said Robert W. Hancock, 51, was southbound on Route 61 in a 1995 Ford L-900 when he lost control of his vehicle, entered a "slide spin," left the roadway on the right shoulder, crossed both lanes and drove over the guide rail on the left shoulder. Hancock's vehicle drove down a 30-foot embankment and struck a tree at the bottom, police said.
Route 61 was closed after the crash to recover the vehicle.
Police said Hancock was cited for failing to drive within a single lane.
Assisting at the scene were Englewood, Frackville and Altamont fire companies and the state Department of Transportation.
Woman not hurt
in 1-vehicle crash
DELANO - A Pine Grove woman was not injured from a one-vehicle crash at 2:39 p.m. Wednesday on Trenton Road near Redwood Street.
State police at Frackville said the crash occurred as Sophia H. Meyer, 26, of Pine Grove, was driving a 1993 Buick Regal west on Trenton Road when she lost control of the vehicle on a snow-covered curve in the road.
Meyer lost control, slid across the eastbound lane, then back across the westbound lane and shoulder and struck a utility pole. The vehicle spun and came to rest in the westbound lane.
Meyer was wearing a seat belt and was not injured, but was checked by EMS as a precaution as her vehicle's airbag did not deploy.
Her vehicle was towed from the scene.
Assisting at the scene was Delano Township Fire Company, Ryan Township Ambulance and Mahanoy Ambulance.
Police investigate
charger theft
TOWER CITY - State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating the theft of a cellphone charger from a vehicle that occurred between 1 and 4 p.m. Wednesday at 1709 E. Grand Ave., Porter Township.
Police said that the cellphone charger was stolen from a red Nissan Frontier belonging to Christa Snyder, 42, of Tower City.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 570-739-1330.
Police probe car
theft in Frackville
FRACKVILLE - State police at Frackville investigated a theft from a vehicle that occurred overnight on Jan. 18 into Jan. 19 at a rear driveway of 236 Wylam St. in West Mahanoy Township.
Police said Joseph Reading reported someone opened the passenger's side rear cargo body door of his personal work vehicle and removed a Lincon mig welder, a Lincon plasma cutter and a Husqvarna 16-inch cut-off saw.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300 and refer to incident L03-1305103.
Shen woman
faces DUI charges
SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS - A Shenandoah woman is facing charges of DUI by West Mahanoy Township police after a traffic stop about 8:10 p.m. Jan. 19 at Pennsylvania Avenue and Ringtown Boulevard.
Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Patricia McCormick, 60, for a violation and detected alcohol. After failing field sobriety tests, the woman was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street where a blood test determined she had an alcohol level of 0.12 percent.
Police said the charges against McCormick will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.
Shen Heights DUI
charge pending
SHENANDOAH - A Shenandoah Heights man involved in crash on Pennsylvania Avenue in West Mahanoy Township about 9 p.m. Jan. 19 has DUI charges pending against him.
West Mahanoy Township police said Eduardo Lopez, 31, crashed his Mercury Marquis and at the scene officers detected alcohol on him. After failing field sobriety tests Lopez was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street where a blood test determined he had an alcohol level of 0.13 percent.
Police said the charges against Lopez will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.
Shen woman
charged for crash
SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS - A Shenandoah woman will be cited by West Mahanoy Township police for driving on roadways laned for traffic after a crash about 6:45 p.m. Jan. 24 on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Police said Justine Davis, 22, was driving west when she went off the road, traveled about 40 feet and hit a utility pole.
Davis and her 3-year-old daughter, who was secured in a child safety seat, escaped injury, police said.
Assisting at the scene were Shenandoah Heights firefighters, Shenandoah EMS and Shenandoah police.
Police investigate
Sears jeans theft
FRACKVILLE - State police at Frackville are looking for a Hazleton man wanted in connection with a theft about 5:05 p.m. Monday at Sears at the Schuylkill Mall.
Police said James E. Davis Jr., 21, walked into the store and stole eight pairs of Levi 569 blue jeans from a rack and fled the area in a black Chevrolet Avalanche that did not have a tailgate.
The investigation determined that Davis has multiple outstanding criminal warrants from Luzerne County Adult Probation, the Luzerne County Sheriff's Office and from Cape May, N.J.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.