Butler County man accused of roadside stabbing in Mercer County
After a standoff with state police at his Slippery Rock Township home, a man was arrested Tuesday with charges accusing him of a road-rage-fueled stabbing in Pine Township, Mercer County.
As of Wednesday, Varick W. Vanistendael, 46, remains in Mercer County Prison on $100,000 bond set by District Judge Daniel W. Davis at his arraignment Tuesday afternoon.
According to the investigating trooper, Vanistendael was being followed by the alleged victim shortly after midnight Tuesday, when he stopped abruptly. Police said Vanistendael exited his vehicle, approached the other driver and stabbed him.
Police said the injured driver drove home and was taken to Grove City Hospital, where he was stabilized. He was then flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he arrived in critical condition, according to authorities. Police said the Grove City man is expected to survive.
Police then arrived at Vanistendael’s home around 3 a.m. Tuesday, and then called in the state police’s Special Emergency Response Team. Vanistendael was arrested without incident around noon.
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