NEARBY: Man Slams Car Into Crowd, Critically Hurts One

Police are searching for a Philadelphia man who they say deliberately drove into a crowd outside a Lower Bucks County lounge early New Year’s Day.

Lower Southampton Township police have obtained an arrest warrant for Roba Gasitashvili, 22, on charges including criminal attempt to commit homicide, aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, aggravated assault by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, and driving at an unsafe speed.

Officers responded to the Hive Lounge in the 100 block of Bustleton Pike at approximately 2 a.m. on Jan. 1 following reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. At the scene, they discovered a 29-year-old Philadelphia man unconscious in the parking lot with severe facial and head trauma, police said.

The victim was transported to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown Township.

Investigators said his injuries, which include skull fractures and internal trauma, are consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

According to police, security system footage from the lounge shows the driver of a white Volkswagen accelerating toward a group of five pedestrians.

The vehicle struck the 29-year-old victim, two other pedestrians, and two parked cars, police reported.

The driver then reportedly circled the building and drove toward other pedestrians who narrowly avoided being hit before briefly stopping near the unconscious victim and fleeing northbound on Bustleton Pike, police said.

Investigators stated they later recovered an unoccupied white Volkswagen Jetta in a TJ Maxx parking lot on East Street Road.

The vehicle had significant front-end damage, including a shattered windshield with what police described as a “human impression,” a deployed airbag, and blood on the hood and grille.

Police said they identified Gasitashvili as the driver through surveillance video and witness statements.

Authorities are currently attempting to locate Gasitashvili. A report from PhillyBurbs.com stated that investigators are concerned he may have fled the country before the charges were officially filed on Tuesday.

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.