Oakdale man charged in fatal turnpike crash
State police charged an Oakdale man Monday for his role in a fatal hit-and-run crash last year.
Jaxon Ramon Farrell, 18, faces felony charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury, as well as misdemeanors of driving under the influence and reckless endangerment.
The accident occurred the afternoon of Aug. 25. Police accuse Farrell of striking 46-year-old Brian Everhart while he was outside of his vehicle on the ramp from Route 22 to the Southern Beltway in Robinson Township.
Everhart was a commercial truck driver from Russellville, Tenn.
According to the criminal complaint, Farrell attempted to drive between a vehicle and Everhart’s tractor-trailer, struck the rear two trailer tires and then Everhart.
Charging documents state that Farrell drove east on the turnpike for about another mile before his car became disabled.
A witness told investigators that he saw Farrell changing his tire and zip-tying his bumper.
Farrell initially told police that he had been sideswiped by a tractor-trailer, but then admitted he had attempted to drive between the two vehicles and hit the tractor-trailer.
According to the complaint, Farrell claimed he did not see Everhart and would have stopped if he had known he had hit someone.
Court records state that a blood test showed that Farrell had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash.
Farrell was arraigned Monday morning before District Judge Louis McQuillan, who released him on $150,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. May 28.