A Lycoming County man was driving under the influence of marijuana in May when he struck and seriously injured a Penn State student in State College, according to borough police.
Noah J. Keister, 19, was charged on Thursday with felony counts of aggravated assault while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury for the May 1 hit-and-run crash at the intersection of West Beaver Avenue and South Gill Street. He also faces two misdemeanor counts of DUI and three summary driving offenses.
A crash investigation showed no signs that Keister attempted emergency braking or evasive maneuvering before striking the 21-year-old pedestrian in the crosswalk while driving a Mazda sedan at about 12:30 a.m., according to an affidavit of probable cause. The crosswalks were clearly marked, the streetlight at the intersection was illuminated, the intersection had no obstructed views and there were no adverse weather conditions at the time of the crash, police wrote.
Keister stopped and was seen by witnesses checking on the pedestrian, but soon left the scene without calling 911 or providing information, according to the affidavit. He later told investigators that he fled “because he was afraid he would get in trouble,” police wrote.
The pedestrian sustained serious leg and head injuries and was flown to the trauma center at UPMC Williamsport for treatment.
Based on witness statements and security video footage, police identified the striking vehicle as being owned by Keister’s family and located his older brother, a recent Penn State student, at a local address. He told police that Keister was driving the Mazda and was supposed to be on his way home to Lycoming County.
Keister sent his brother several text messages starting at 12:49 a.m. asking him to “pick up” before sending a final message at 2:33 a.m. that he hit a deer and damaged the car but had made it home, police wrote. The brother admitted to giving Keister alcohol earlier that evening and said Keister also uses a marijuana dab pen, according to the affidavit.
When interviewed by state police at Montoursville, Keister allegedly said that there was no warning for a cross walk, and that he looked down for a second and when he looked up there was a person that “didn’t look both ways” in front of him.
Keister admitted to drinking alcohol that evening and was administered a breath test that showed a blood alcohol content of .012%, which is below the legal limit, according to the affidavit. Toxicology analysis of a blood sample collected at 4:35 a.m. showed he had THC in his system, police wrote.
He was arraigned on Thursday afternoon by District Judge Steven Lachman and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15.
