The man who crashed his pickup truck into the Mount Carbon Arch during a high-speed pursuit with Pottsville Police waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday morning.
Jacob Maldonado, 33, of Port Carbon, did not retain the services of a lawyer and waived his right to a preliminary hearing before District Magistrate James Reiley.
Maldonado appeared via video conference from Schuylkill County Prison for his court appearance on Monday.
He’s been in Schuylkill County Prison since Aug. 13 when, at about 1 a.m., he engaged police in Pottsville on a high-speed pursuit through the city’s downtown and eventually into Mount Carbon.
Maldonado failed to negotiate the left curve in the road as it passes under the Mount Carbon Arch and slammed nearly head-on into the railway overpass abutment.
Police attempted to pull over Maldonado on W. Market St. that night after noticing his third brake light was out. Instead of pulling over, Maldonado floored it. Police say the pursuit reached speeds of 80 mph as it made its way south on Centre St. and out of the city.
Maldonado had to be extricated from his pickup truck and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries.
It was later learned that Maldonado was wanted on a parole warrant out of Connecticut.
He remains in Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 bail.
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