Hempfield man who ignored accident scene was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, police say

Dec. 15--State police in Greensburg allege a Hempfield man was almost three times over the legal limit of intoxication and under the influence of marijuana when he drove through an accident scene Oct. 21, striking a car and nearly hitting a police cruiser.

Christopher M. Anderson, 21, then fled the scene of the crash on Swede Hill Road but was stopped a short distance away in the Shryll Heights area where he lives, Trooper Thomas Maloney alleges in an affidavit of probable cause.

Maloney alleges that a forensic analysis showed Anderson's blood-alcohol content was .23 percent and that the blood sample showed he also was under the influence of marijuana, according to court documents. A person with a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent is considered legally intoxicated in Pennsylvania.

Maloney reported that he and Trooper Luke Hanko had just arrived at the accident scene about 3:10 a.m. and parked in an established emergency lane on Swede Hill, near the Willow Crossing Road intersection, when Anderson drove through, ignoring traffic restrictions.

"With all patrol vehicle emergency lighting illuminated, a silver PT cruiser sped into the emergency zone ... striking one car that was parked in front of (Maloney's) patrol vehicle. I proceeded to attempt to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle, which continued at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at a stop sign while making a turn on to Willow Crossing Road," Maloney wrote in the affidavit.

Maloney reported that emergency personnel were tending to an injured person in the accident area and attempting to interview witnesses at the time.

When Anderson was pulled over, he smelled of alcohol, Maloney said.

"I then requested Anderson step out of the vehicle and he complied. Anderson was staggering, swaying and fell into his vehicle," Maloney said.

Maloney reported that Anderson consented to a blood draw at Excela Health Westmoreland hospital in Greensburg.

He is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, driving without insurance coverage, failing to reduce speed in an emergency response area, careless driving, reckless driving, ignoring a traffic sign and fleeing the scene of an accident.

A preliminary hearing will be scheduled before District Judge Mark Mansour.

Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-850-2860, ppeirce@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ppeirce_trib.

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