Driver accused of fleeing Route 30 crash near Westmoreland Mall

Area firefighters and state police Monday searched a neighborhood along the border of Hempfield and Unity to find a man who fled the scene of a wreck on Route 30, state police said.

David L. Jellison, 27, of Hostetter, was arraigned on multiple criminal charges Tuesday in connection with the crash that occurred about 5:18 p.m. Monday at the highway’s intersection with Old Route 30.

Trooper Trent Thomas reported that after the collision, Jellison, “his face covered in blood and not wearing a shirt,” left a 2019 Chevrolet Cruz he was driving idling in park, exited the car and ran south along Old Route 30, east of Westmoreland Mall.

A property owner along nearby Sassafras Lane tipped troopers and area firemen canvassing the area Jellison was hiding in some bushes, Thomas reported.

Jellison surrendered but provided police with a false identification and gave them multiple reasons for the crash.

Initially, Jellison said he had just taken a prescribed dose of the sedative Klonipin, Thomas reported. Later, he told troopers he was reaching for a cigarette he dropped when he ran into the other vehicle.

Jellison was taken by ambulance to Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. There, he refused to provide a blood specimen for forensic examination, Thomas reported.

Police said Jellison is not licensed to drive because of a prior DUI conviction.

He was arraigned before Unity District Judge Michael Mahady on charges of fleeing the scene of an accident, providing false identification to police, driving on a suspended license, careless driving, driving at an unsafe speed and careless driving. He was ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $500 bail.