Teen faces gun, drug, DUI charges in crash
A Lawrence County teenager faces a hearing next month on felony and other charges stemming from a suspected March drugged driving crash in Portersville.
Jeremy M. Streckeisen, 19, of Ellwood City suffered serious injuries around 8:50 a.m. March 4 when the car he was driving crossed the center line, slid sideways off West Portersville Road and struck a utility pole, police said.
He was flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment of unspecified injuries.
While investigating the wreckage, according to court documents, police found a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana as well as a glass smoking pipe and a marijuana grinder.
Additionally, police said they turned up a loaded .22-caliber revolver in the car's glove box. A subsequent search of records found that the defendant did not have a carry permit for the gun.
Police subsequently obtained a search warrant for Streckeisen's medical records. Toxicology results later showed he had THC, oxycodone and opiates in his system, documents said.
District Judge Bill O'Donnell on Friday arraigned the teen on a felony count of possession of a firearm without a concealed carry license and misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Streckeisen is also charged with disregarding traffic lanes, failing to keep right, driving too fast for conditions, careless driving and reckless driving. He was released on $5,000 unsecured bail following arraignment.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5. Online court records did not indicate if he has an attorney.
