Man flips pickup,
flees scene on foot
Pottsville police investigated a crash that was reported at 10:51 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of East Norwegian Street involving multiple vehicles with entrapment.
Police said that at the scene, officers saw a Ford pickup truck resting on its driver’s side blocking the roadway and two damaged parked vehicles.
While verifying if the vehicle was occupied, multiple bystanders stated the driver had left the scene heading east on East Norwegian Street.
The driver, Jeffrey McNitsky, 40, of Pottsville, was quickly located in the 700 block of East Norwegian Street and, after showing signs of being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, was taken into custody for a blood alcohol test, police said.
The subsequent investigation showed that McNitsky had been traveling east in the 400 block of East Norwegian Street when he lost control of his vehicle due to a combination of being under the influence or a controlled substance.
The man’s truck struck two Ford pickup trucks that were legally parked on the south side of the 400 block of East Norwegian Street before flipping onto its driver’s side, at which time McNitsky attempted to flee the scene.
Police said McNitsky’s vehicle and one of the parked trucks sustained severe damage and were towed from the scene while the other parked vehicle sustained minor damage.
Police said appropriate charges will be filed against McNitsky at the conclusion of the investigation, including results of the blood test, and that Pottsville firefighters assisted with traffic control and scene clean up.
Police investigate
damaged window
NEW PHILADELPHIA — A vandal damaged the rear window of a parked vehicle early Friday, according to state police at Frackville.
The vehicle is owned by Jennifer Neifert, 44, and the incident occurred at 32 Valley St. at 8:30 a.m. Friday. New Philadelphia police were not on duty at the time of the incident, state police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 570-874-5300.
Police search for
hit-and-run driver
CRESSONA — State police at Schuylkill Haven are looking for a hit-and-run driver who hit the back of a vehicle on state Route 183 on Wednesday afternoon, police said Friday.
The incident occurred at 1:44 p.m. Wednesday as Debra Schwartz, 53, of Valley View, was driving a 2003 Dodge Dakota south on Route 183 when she stopped for traffic. The back of her vehicle was struck by another vehicle about 115 feet east of North Sillyman Street, police said.
Schwartz pulled into the parking lot of a Mobil gas station, but the vehicle which hit her failed to stop, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 570-739-1330.