20-year-old charged in DUI crash in Fairchance
A 20-year-old who allegedly crashed a vehicle into a creek while intoxicated and blamed her aunt was arrested Thursday.
Both driver Angel Noel Nicholson of Connellsville and her cousin were injured in the crash along Elm Street in Fairchance during the early morning hours of Jan. 8.
Police said the vehicle overturned in a creek, trapping the women inside. A medical helicopter flew passenger Holly Nicholson from the scene to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. Angel Nicholson was treated by Fayette EMS.
Troopers interviewed Nicholson on the scene, who said her aunt was driving the vehicle when it slid on black ice and crashed. No evidence supported this, police said. They said Nicholson appeared to be intoxicated and admitted to drinking alcohol throughout the night leading up to the crash, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in her case.
Karley Doman, who lives about half-mile from the crash scene, told police Angel Nicholson left her residence minutes before the crash driving the vehicle. She said the woman was “causing problems,” so she told her to leave and called police.
Police interviewed Nicholson again Jan. 18. Police said she changed her story multiple times, admitting to drinking and driving but denying she was the driver when the vehicle crashed.
“The defendant provided me with a written statement placing blame on the victim for operating the vehicle at the time of the crash,” Trooper Robert Politowski wrote in the affidavit.
She is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, driving under the influence, recklessly endangering another person, unsworn falsification to authorities and falsely incriminating another.
Nicholson was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. Shimshock Thursday morning and lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $25,000 bond.
Her preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 8 before Shimshock.