By PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
VINTONDALE — A harrowing, high-speed chase of a suspected drunken driver ended when the man lost control of his car on a winding road in Jackson Township and the vehicle overturned, authorities said.
Vintondale police said they tried to stop Michael Craig Sherman for running a stop sign at Plank Road and Main Street at 8:10 p.m. Friday. He sped off, tossing beer cans out the window, officers said.
Sherman ran stop signs and traffic lights as he led about eight officers on a chase on township roads, police said.
Sherman turned from the Dishong Mountain Road exit onto Route 22 eastbound, and nearly collided with another vehicle while throwing beer cans at pursuing police, authorities said.
Sherman “attempted to push another vehicle off the roadway while swerving to throw debris up onto the police vehicle,” according to the criminal complaint filed by police.
Police pursued Sherman onto Fords Corner Road and Turkey Path Road, where he lost control and the car struck a culvert. The vehicle overturned and landed on its roof.
Sherman and a passenger were taken into custody, police said.
Blood tests were performed on Sherman at Memorial Medical Center, though results were not available.
Sherman said he had been drinking and smoking marijuana throughout the day, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed by police.
He was charged with reckless endangerment and fleeing and eluding police in addition to a number of traffic violations.
Sherman was arraigned by District Judge Rick Varner of Salix and sent to Cambria County Prison after failing to post $20,000 bond.
