Burgettstown man arrested after chase
An attempt to stop a driver suspected in a road rage incident in Hanover Township Monday afternoon started a chase that went into West Virginia before returning to Washington County and ending with the arrest of a Burgettstown man.
Brian N. Jones, 21, of 159 Meneely Road, faces charges including fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, careless driving and disorderly conduct.
Police were called about 12:45 p.m. for a report of a road rage incident on Steubenville Pike near the township building. An officer spotted the vehicle involved and activated the emergency lights and siren on the cruiser.
Police said the driver, later identified as Jones, accelerated and passed a school bus and other vehicles as he crested the top of a hill. They said Jones continued eastbound on Steubenville Pike at 80 mph and went through a red light before turning onto Route 22 westbound toward Weirton, W.Va. State police and Weirton police were alerted about the pursuit.
Weirton police joined the chase as it entered West Virginia. Police said Jones got off Route 22 and turned left onto Colliers Way.
Jones continued onto Harmon Creek Road and drove back into Pennsylvania, then traveled onto Bartleyville Road and Francis Mine Road. Weirton police abandoned the pursuit when it crossed into Pennsylvania, but Hanover police and a Washington County sheriff’s deputy continued it until losing sight of the vehicle on Log Cabin Road.
Police went to Jones’ home and talked with his mother, who reportedly told police he was in the vehicle and she saw the start of the chase. Police talked with Jones on the telephone, persuading him to return home. He was dropped off in a different vehicle. Police said Jones told officers he crashed his own vehicle on Log Cabin Road.
According to police, a test showed Jones had a blood-alcohol content double the 0.08 percent limit at which intoxication is presumed.
Jones was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and placed in Washington County jail on $5,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for April 14 before Havelka.