Man accused of leading state police on chase through Waynesburg
TristaThurstonDigital Operations Directortthurston@observer-reporter.comhttps://observer-reporter.com/content/tncms/avatars/6/0e/7df/60e7df94-b04a-11e7-b1e4-67d6bd95bcf4.a7e1f1ccffca2dca187ffb5bf53c27a1.png
Niko Anthony Sannicolas
A driver who allegedly sped through Waynesburg Borough is now facing charges for the resulting police pursuit and a hit-and-run crash Monday night.
Niko Anthony Sannicolas, 24, of 1167 West Roy Furman Highway, Graysville, was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, two misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated, accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle or property and 31 summary traffic violations.
Trooper Lucas Borkowski was traveling on Route 19/21 near Sugar Run Road in Franklin Township with his cruiser’s emergency lights and sirens on while driving to a shooting on South Morris Street shortly after 10 p.m. when he came upon a driver later identified as Sannicolas speeding through an intersection, according to the criminal complaint. Sannicolas continued to speed toward the trooper, driving nearly 75 mph into Waynesburg, according to court documents.
Sannicolas continued on Route 19/21 and hit the back bumper of a car near Washington Street, in front of Greene County Courthouse. Another trooper attempted to block traffic on Route 19/21, but Sannicolas drove around the car.
Sannicolas reached speeds of 80 mph on Route 21 west of Waynesburg, “passing multiple cars and following multiple cars too closely.” The vehicle was driving too fast for state police to keep up. Multiple people called Greene County 911 to report Sannicolas’ location and behavior.
Sannicolas “put the public at risk multiple times during the time of this pursuit,” the criminal complaint said.
State police continued to follow Sannicolas at a distance. A caller to Greene County 911 on Hargus Creek Road in Center Township reported a car near his residence that matched the description of Sannicolas’ vehicle. Troopers arrived and saw the vehicle crashed in a front yard and Sannicolas walking in a nearby yard. He was arrested.
Sannicolas told officers he drank two pitchers of beer and he was just trying to get home. His blood-alcohol content was 0.136 percent above the 0.08 limit at which intoxication is presumed. The fleeing incident is not connected to the shooting around the same time in Waynesburg.
Sannicolas is being held at Greene County jail on $15,000 bond. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 10:45 a.m. April 9 before District Judge Glenn Bates.