Lansford man charged in head-on crash

A Lansford man who caused a head-on crash in Nesquehoning last month and then a few days later led police on a pursuit that ended in him crashing a stolen vehicle has been charged in the first crash.

Brandon Leslie, 31, of the 300 block of East Snyder Avenue, faces charges of accident involving injury, recklessly endangering another person, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license is suspended, reckless driving, careless driving, disregarding traffic lane and failing to stay on the right side of the road for the Dec. 14 crash.

According to an affidavit filed by Nesquehoning police officer Timothy Wuttke on the first case, at 9:37 a.m. officers were dispatched to the area of the 100 block of Stock Street, Route 54, for a crash with injury and entrapment.

Wuttke observed a Jeep Grand Cherokee in the middle of the road with heavy front-end damage, and a utility truck lying on its driver’s side.

All occupants of the vehicles were able to get out of the vehicles.

The owner of the Jeep, later identified as Leslie, had a cut on his head from the crash, and showed signs of impairment while talking to police. Wuttke also noticed syringes, wax packets commonly used for heroin and fentanyl and plastic baggies with crystal meth on the driver’s side floor.

Leslie admitted he had used meth before the crash and that his license was suspended for a previous DUI charge.

The driver and passenger of the utility truck told police that were traveling west along Route 54 when they noticed the Jeep, which was traveling east in the westbound lane. The driver of the truck attempted to avoid the collision, but the Jeep also swerved in the same direction and struck the truck, causing it to flip.

All three individuals suffered injuries in the crash and were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Witnesses at the scene corroborated the utility truck driver’s story and noted that the Jeep had not been passing anyone that would have contributed him being in the opposite lane.

In addition to the drugs found on the Jeep’s floor, Wuttke also found additional drugs and drug paraphernalia during a search of the vehicle.

A blood test revealed on the day of the crash, Leslie’s blood tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and other drugs.

Charges for the pursuit and crash that Leslie led Nesquehoning and Lansford police on five days later are still pending.