Man hit as car goes into crowd
By Jim Smith, Eagle Staff Writer
SLIPPERY ROCK — A suspected drunken driver is accused of driving his car into a crowd of people at an apartment complex parking lot in Slippery Rock Township early Saturday morning, hitting a man.
The victim suffered a broken nose, concussion and other injuries.
State police said the suspect, Joshua M. Klein, 23, of New Castle drove away but was caught a short time later. Klein was arrested and arraigned on 15 charges, including four felonies. He is in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bail.
Police said they were called at about 2:50 a.m. for a hit-and-run crash in which someone was struck. Troopers learned that the crash happened around 2:30 a.m. on Stillwater Lane, the parking lot at The Heights of Slippery Rock apartments.
Trooper Casey Fuller spoke to the victim, who was being treated in an ambulance. Police said he had an apparent broken nose, bruised head and a concussion. He was taken to Grove City Medical Center.
The suspect reportedly drove away after the crash. A Slippery Rock police officer saw the suspect vehicle, a 2018 Ford Fiesta, enter the parking lot of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company on Elm Street, according to charging documents.
The officer said when he approached the car, which had front-end damage, the suspected driver, later identified as Klein, got out and ran. The officer chased and caught Klein.
The defendant's passenger, a 22-year-old woman, told police that “Klein was driving his vehicle, intoxicated when he approached a crowd in the parking lot of the Heights apartments,” according to Fuller's affidavit.
The woman recounted that the defendant “drove his vehicle into a crowd of people, striking one.” She said he continued driving and fled the scene.
When the Slippery Rock police officer approached his car on Elm Street, the passenger said, “Klein told her to flee and (he) exited the vehicle on foot.”
The officer nabbed Klein, who subsequently failed field sobriety tests, police said.
Klein was later taken to Butler Memorial Hospital but documents did not indicate if he went there for a blood test, treatment or both.
District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned Klein at 9:10 a.m. Saturday on two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence and accidents involving injury, all felonies.
Additionally, he is charged with DUI, simple assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment.
Police also cited him for careless driving, reckless driving, failing to stop and give information or render aid after an accident, hit-and-run and failing to immediately notify police of an accident.
