Waynesburg man arrested for high speed chase with children in car
A Waynesburg man is facing multiple charges after he led deputies on a high-speed chase while his daughters were in the vehicle.
William Charles Smith, 21, has been charged with two felony counts each of aggravated assault and child endangerment and a felony count of fleeing police; three misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, two misdemeanor counts each of corruption of minors, resisting arrest and simple assault; and seven summary traffic violations.
The charges were filed by Greene County Sheriff蘑菇视频 Office deputies following the Dec. 10 incident.
According to the criminal complaint, deputies followed Smith after seeing him drive at a high speed on North Porter Street in Waynesburg Borough. The vehicle was later found on Hessel Street, a dead-end road, and Smith allegedly drove toward deputies, the complaint states.
Deputies moved out of the way, fearing a head-on collision, according to the complaint.
Smith failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Veterans Way and North Porter Street, and continued accelerating, court documents state. Police said he was 鈥渄isregarding everything and everyone on or along the road.鈥�
Smith turned on to Race Street and drove through another stop sign at Woodland Avenue, before he drove on the wrong side of the road, the complaint states.
Smith then crashed his car and jumped out of the vehicle, appearing to try to flee, the complaint states. He then told deputies his two daughters were in the vehicle, the complaint states.
Deputies said the children were in car seats, unharmed and were transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown as a precaution. Smith was also taken to Ruby Hospital for a head injury.
Following arraignment, Smith was placed in Greene County Prison on $15,000 straight bond. His preliminary hearing was scheduled to be held before Magisterial District Judge David Balint Dec. 20. Information regarding his hearing was not made available by the Messenger蘑菇视频 press time.