A chase in the City of Lebanon Tuesday ended with a flipped Ford Explorer and its driver charged with a felony.
According to a release by Pennsylvania State Police, 24 year old Ricky Rodriguez was observed by a PSP Trooper operating a 2001 Ford Explorer with an inoperable brake light shortly before noon Tuesday.
The release states that Rodriguez began to escape at a high rate of speed after a traffic stop was attempted in the area of N. 10th and Monument Streets. Rodriguez was said to have fled east on Monument St., south on N. Partridge St., and then continuing west on Lehman St. through a red light and north on N. 11th St. through multiple stop signs.
According to PSP, the chase culminated after Rodriguez turned on to E. Guilford St., passing a school bus on the shoulder at a high rate of speed, then turning right on to Jones St., at which point he lost control of his vehicle.
The Explorer was said to have crashed into a residential home while rolling to its side (see a photo above thanks to a helpful LebTown reader).
Rodriguez as well as an unnamed male juvenile passenger were both taken into custody without further incident. During a search following the crash, a container was found containing suspected fentanyl residue. According to police, Rodriguez said that he attempted to flee due to having a suspended driver’s license.
Although charges have not appeared in the state’s Unified Judicial System, PSP said that Rodriguez would be charged with Felony Fleeing and Eluding, Endangering the Welfare of Children, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, and numerous summary traffic violations.
PSP said that following the completion of charges at PSP Jonestown, Rodriguez was transferred to Lebanon County Correctional Facility.
