Man faces more charges in Adams Township crash
A Forward Township man accused of driving under the influence and crashing into a motorcycle in Adams Township received additional traffic citations, including illegal racing, at his preliminary hearing Tuesday, Oct. 10.
The amended criminal complaint against David E. Hertzog, 67, showed a half-gallon bottle of vodka was found in his vehicle’s passenger seat and that he was driving recklessly before the crash Aug. 30.
Hertzog initially was charged with two counts each of felonies aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence and accidents involving personal injury; misdemeanors DUI and accidents involving property damage; and summaries careless driving, failure to stop at a stop sign and operating a vehicle without proper insurance.
The crash between a pickup truck and a motorcycle at the intersection of Mars-Evans City and Marburger roads sent the motorcyclist and his passenger to a hospital.
On Tuesday, Hertzog appeared before District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz and waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
According to David Beichner, assistant district attorney, the criminal complaint against Hertzog was amended, and documents showed summaries illegal racing, reckless driving, and restrictions on alcoholic beverages had been added to the case.
The crash was reported around 8:20 p.m.
Hertzog, who was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado, did not come to a complete stop when he approached Mars-Evans City Road from Kline Avenue, driving through the intersection and hitting a motorcycle and its two riders, according to charging documents.
Police said the motorcycle had the right of way.
The amended court documents showed that prior to the crash, Hertzog was driving slowly, sometimes in the middle of the road, and stopping randomly. Witnesses also reported Hertzog was “brake-checking.”
Police said one driver attempted to pass Hertzog due to his erratic driving, at which point Hertzog accelerated as the vehicles approached a one-lane bridge.
Hertzog continued to race to the intersection, failing to stop, resulting in the crash, police said.
The two people on the motorcycle were rushed to a hospital, according to charging documents, where they were listed in critical condition.
Witnesses told police that following the crash, Hertzog sped up Marburger Road in an attempt to leave the scene.
When police approached Hertzog, he reported he was returning from Giant Eagle in Seven Fields, but there were no groceries in his vehicle, police said.
According to documents, field sobriety tests showed Hertzog was impaired and that a later breath test showed his blood alcohol content at 0.176%. In Pennsylvania, the legal limit is 0.08%.
Police said Hertzog also was unable to provide current insurance information, and new documents showed an open, half-gallon bottle of vodka was found in the passenger compartment of his vehicle.
Documents showed Hertzog was in jail for one day before posting $30,000 bail. Conditions of his bond required he be placed on pretrial supervision with a SCRAM unit, which provides continuous alcohol monitoring.
