A driver was injured after slamming into a utility pole during a police chase in Bristol Township late Sunday night.
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Pennsylvania State Police said in court papers that a trooper was on patrol in the area of Route 13 in the area of Beaver Dam Road in Bristol Township around 11:30 p.m. when a 1996 Oldsmobile LSS had a brake light not working.
The trooper went to pull over the Oldsmobile and the vehicle did not use a turn signal as it changed lanes, state police said.
“At this time, the Oldsmobile then began to accelerate away from my patrol vehicle with emergency lights and siren activated and began attempting to flee,” a trooper wrote in court papers.
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The chase continued on Route 13 and the Oldsmobile driver made numerous traffic code violations, including running red lights, troopers said.
State police said a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver was attempted near the intersection with Green Lane.
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Troopers said the maneuver was successful, but the fleeing vehicle was able to flee on Route 13 in the opposite direction, again coming toward the intersection with Beaver Dam Road.
The chase then went onto Beaver Dam Road and a PIT maneuver was again tried at about 35 MPH on Beaver Dam Road just before Van Kirk Street, causing the Oldsmobile to skid across the roadway and strike a utility pole, according to troopers.
Responding law enforcement assisted the driver and passenger out one of the windows and detained both of them, state police said.
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The passenger was identified and found to have no warrants. He was unhurt and stated the driver didn’t say why he fled, state police said.
The driver refused to give his name to authorities and said he wanted medical attention, state police said.
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Troopers stated they noted the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver, state police said.
With a trooper in the rear of the ambulance, the injured driver was taken to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital in Philadelphia.
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The driver was identified through his driver’s license as Ren M. Crowder, 39, of Bristol Township. His license was suspended at the time due to a past DUI, state police said.
The troopers stated in court documents that Crowder was believed to be under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
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Crowder was preliminarily arraigned Monday morning on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, reckless endangerment, DUI, and several traffic offenses. He was sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility by on-call District Judge Regina Armitage on 10 percent of $75,000.
Crowder was recently on probation for a 2018 Bensalem Township DUI where he was sentenced to prison and ordered to undergo treatment.
In 2009, Crowder was arrested by state police for DUI and pleaded guilty, according to court records.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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