Local News-Monday, June 4th

A Pine Grove man is dead following a crash early Sunday. Schuylkill Haven state police say that 24-year-old William Bressler was south on State Route 125 near Camp Road. He crossed the highway, striking two guiderails and two posts before the car went airborne, rolling over in the air. The driver’s side of the car hit a tree while the car was upside down. The highway was closed for several hours for cleanup. Bressler was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Robert Berger. The crash happened around 2:30am Sunday.

A Schuylkill Haven man is in the county prison following a crash in the borough Saturday night.
Schuylkill Haven borough police tell us that 40-year-old Eric Hertz is charged with attempted vehicular homicide and related offenses after he reportedly forced a motorcycle off of the road on Columbia Street, seriously injuring the driver. Police say that Hertz tried to pass the motorcycle as it turned in front of his pickup truck, and swerved into the bike’s path. The cyclist, 37-year-old Gerald Lightcap of Schuylkill Haven, was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital.
An investigation into the crash led them to Hertz’s home. He was taken into custody and arraigned before District Judge James Reiley, and lodged in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $75-thousand-dollars bail.

An East Earl man is under arrest after a high-speed chase in western Schuylkill County Sunday afternoon. Schuylkill Haven state police were called to an area near Route 125 and Interstate 81 in Frailey Township. There were reports of motorcycles racing and driving erratically.
Trooper Edward Sanchez said that three motorcycles came flying at him. Two of the cycles took off, and he gave chase on Route 125 to a sport bike driven by 21-year-old Travis Zeiset. During pursuit, speeds reached 122 miles per hour as they headed towards the village of Donaldson. After a short distance, Zeiset gave up and was arrested by Sanchez. The other motorcycle rider kept going. He is charged with fleeing and eluding police, as well as other motor vehicle violations. He was arraigned before District Judge Reiley.

State police at Frackville picked up a Ringtown man who was wanted on two warrants Sunday morning. Troopers found Ryan Briggs drunk at a location near Brandonville. He gave false identification to them. A records check indicated that Briggs was wanted on two different bench warrants from Schuylkill County Court. He was taken into custody on those warrants, and taken to Schuylkill County Prison.

Two people were injured in a three vehicle crash in Pine Grove yesterday. Bradley Richard of Fleetwood was driving west on Route 443, and attempted to turn onto Route 895. His Jeep struck a pickup driven by Eugene Martin of Fredericksburg. The impact forced Martin’s truck into a car driven by Herbert Rose of Sacramento, which was stopped at a stop sign on Route 895. Martin and Rose were taken to Hershey Medical Center for treatment via ambulance. Local fire crews aided state police at the scene. The crash happened around 3pm Sunday.

Today is day three of the Schuylkill Sojourn. More than 175 canoers and kayakers left the Island in Schuylkill Haven Saturday morning in the annual trek to Philadelphia on the historic waterway that begins in our county. Day one was completed in two parts. The first part of the journey took the group to the Auburn desilting dam, where they broke for lunch. They left the water and moved below the dam to make their way to Port Clinton for the night. WPPA/T102 News Reporter Allie Raring and her father, Carl, have participated in the Sojourn every year since its inception. She filed a report last night from Berks County on Sunday’s activities on the Schuylkill, saying that the rain and wind put a damper on the day, but their made their 18 mile destination in time unscathed. While their journey ends today, many of the river enthusiasts will continue on down the Schuylkill until they reach Boathouse Row in Philadelphia on Friday.

The investigation continues into a stand-off Sunday morning in Northumberland County.
Several residents in Mount Carmel awoke to the sounds of bullhorns and the sight of police officers in tactical gear as a Sunday morning standoff shook the neighborhood. The stand-off on Vine Street lasted about four hours until 60-year-old William Bressi, came out of his barricaded bottom-floor apartment and surrendered to police peacefully. Brian Shurock, borough police chief, says the incident began just before six a.m. as Bressi was threatening to harm himself.
Neighbors were evacuated as Bressi told police there was a bomb at the entrance of his doorway, but no bomb was found. Negotiations lasted until around ten a.m. when Bressi came out of the home and surrendered. He was taken to a local hospital for observation.

Charges of endangering the welfare of children have been filed against a man and woman in Ashland. The Pottsville Republican reports 36-year-old Susan McGurl, and John Burke, both of 1800 Centre Street, were charged stemming from an incident that occurred on May 24th.
Police say they were called just after midnight about a young child in the area of 16th and Centre streets. Police arrived on scene and took a 5-year-old boy into protective custody and also notified Schuylkill County Children and Youth services. Police were unable to locate the parents of the boy. Children and Youth took custody of the child and charges were filed against the parents.