By Josh Cotton

jcotton@timesobserver.com

SUGAR GROVE, Pa. — A Sugar Grove man has been charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence in connection with a February incident where he allegedly rear-ended an Amish buggy on Jackson Run Road near Dollar General in Sugar Grove.

Gary L. O’Donnell, 67, 11190 Jackson Run Road, was charged by Warren-based Pennsylvania State Police with a litany of charges stemming from the accident.

Troopers were dispatched to the scene — Jackson Run Rad near the Dollar General in Sugar Grove Township — on Feb. 19 at approximately 6:30 p.m. and learned that a white van traveling south had rear-ended a buggy.

“Due to the impact,” police say in the affidavit of probable cause, “the horse was killed and the buggy was demolished” while the van fled southbound without stopping. “The buggy was discovered to be legally equipped with rear lighting and an orange triangle.”

The affidavit states that the victim initially reported he wasn’t injured but agreed to go to the hospital, where it was discovered that the victim “had suffered broken vertebrae in his neck and a concussion.”

Two witnesses at the scene — who were driving in the opposite direction — reported to police they observed the buggy and “noticed the white van coming south at a high rate of speed.

“They stated as they got closer to the buggy they veered over to their right to give the southbound white van room to pass the buggy to its left. The witnesses stated the white van never slowed down or braked and just ran right into the back of it and continued on southbound without stopping.”

About 20 minutes later, state police in Starbrick received a call from O’Donnell’s girlfriend who reported that he was upset when he got home and told her he thought he hit an Amush buggy.

She described O’Donnell as “a little intoxicated” and told police the vehicle involved in the crash was in the driveway. Police subsequently matched debris from the scene to the vehicle in the driveway.

Police subsequently interviewed O’Donnell who appeared to be “reserved, drinking coffee and nervous,” according to the affidavit. Police asked him what happened and he told police “I hit a buggy. I’m not quite sure. It was dark. I was on my way home and it was dark. I didn’t know if I hit a deer or what happened. I didn’t stop. It was right down the road so I just came right to my house.”

His girlfriend told police she drove past the accident scene about 20 minutes after O’Donnell would have come through and found him at their residence inspecting the damage to the van.

He admitted to having a “couple” beers at AMVETS and some wine and champagne once he got home. Police observed a “strong odor” of alcohol from O’Donnell, who had “watery, bloodshot, glassy eyes.”

Field sobriety tests were administered and he was subsequently arrested for DUI, which police identify as his 8th overall DUI, and was taken to Warren General Hospital for a blood draw, which was sent to a State Police lab in Harrisburg.

Those results were received on March 23 and revealed a BAC of .214 and charges were brought “due to the totality of the circumstances and extent of injuries suffered by the victim….”

Those charges include aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, three counts of DUI, accident involving damage to attended vehicle/property, accidents involving death or personal injury, fail to stop and give information or render aid, reckless driving, careless driving — serious bodily injury, careless driving, failure to notify police of accident — injury or death and fail to use safety belt, according to online court records.

Those records indicate that a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 21 at 11:20 a.m.