SHAMOKIN - An 18-year-old Valley View man, who fled the scene of a two-vehicle accident at Market and Chestnut streets Friday night following a high-speed chase, has been charged with 11 offenses, including a felony of endangering police and the general public while fleeing or attempting to elude police.
Gavin D. Heim, of 329 Park Road, was arraigned Friday night by Senior Magisterial District Judge Michael Mychak on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, accidents involving death or personal injury, resisting arrest, accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed, accidents involving damage to attended property, failure to give information and render aid, driving under suspension, reckless driving, driving at an unsafe speed, a red light violation and a stop sign violation.
The charges were filed by Patrolman William Zalinski in connection with the accident that resulted in injuries to two people and culminated a high-speed chase that started at Shamokin and Independence streets.
Heim was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury after failing to provide $35,000 cash bail.
Zalinski, who was on patrol in the 400 block of East Independence Street, said he spotted Heim travel through a stop sign at Shamokin and Independence streets while driving a silver, two-door coupe south on Shamokin Street shortly after 6 p.m. Zalinski said he activated his emergency lights and pursued the car while it traveled through stop signs at Shamokin and Shakespeare streets, Shakespeare and Rock streets, and Water and Liberty streets before heading onto East Lincoln Street.
Police said the car continued to increase its speed as it traveled west on Lincoln Street. Police said the auto traveled through a stop sign at Lincoln and Eighth streets and a red light at Lincoln and Market streets while steering around vehicles in the westbound lane and through the intersection.
Police reported Heim failed to stop for a stop sign at Arch and Sixth streets before going south on Sixth Street. The car then quickly turned east off Sixth Street onto Chestnut Street before proceeding at a high rate of speed through a stop sign at Chestnut and Market streets, where it collided with a car in the middle of the intersection. The auto struck by Heim's vehicle was traveling south on Market Street and came to rest at the southwest corner of the intersection after spinning around from the collision.
Heim and his two passengers immediately exited the vehicle and fled on foot east on Chestnut Street.
Officer Nathan Rhodes pursued Heim on foot west in the 200 block of West Spruce Street, where Rhodes and Cpl. John Brown tackled Heim and took him into custody.
Zalinski said charges also are pending against a male juvenile passenger, who was taken into custody a few minutes after the accident. The officer said another passenger identified as a black male has not been located.
Stephanie Eckbold, 28, of 646 Bear Valley Ave., Shamokin, who was driving the car struck by Heim's vehicle, and her husband, Richard Eckbold, 30, suffered injuries and were transported by AREA Services Ambulance to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital. Both victims underwent emergency room treatment before being released.