A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Schuylkill County man accused of crashing a trash truck into a sedan, injuring a woman, and fleeing the scene while an acquaintance attempted to claim responsibility for the wreck.
Police are looking for James Ulrich Jr., 31, of New Philadelphia, in connection with the Jan. 15, crash on Route 183 (Chestnut Street). The incident occurred shortly before 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of Sweet Arrow Lake Road and the R & J Transportation facility on Route 183 in North Manheim Township.
Troopers say they arrived to find a black Chevrolet Cruz off the roadway and a white “Dumpster Dudez” trash truck that had struck a utility pole and several parked vehicles in the R & J Transportation lot.
The driver of the sedan was trapped in her vehicle, police say. Firefighters had to cut the roof off the sedan to extract her. The driver reportedly told police she was traveling south when the northbound truck crossed into her lane and struck her.
She was airlifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for observation.
A witness to the crash reportedly told police she was driving behind the sedan when she saw the trash truck go “airborne” with “parts flying everywhere.” She said the truck then swerved into the parking lot.
Police also say they located a man identified as George Keller at the scene. Keller, who was taking pictures of the damage to send to his boss, allegedly told troopers he was driving the truck. He reportedly claimed a car came around a corner into his lane, causing him to swerve.
However, witness accounts contradicted Keller’s story, police say. One witness told police the driver she saw was a white male with a “knick” or blood spot on his forehead.
Additionally, a firefighter reported seeing a younger male wearing an orange sweatshirt exit the truck and leave the scene.
Police say Keller was wearing a dark sweatshirt, dark pants, and a red beanie, and had no injuries on his forehead. Police also recovered an orange sweatshirt on the ground near the truck.
When confronted with the discrepancies, Keller allegedly admitted he was not the operator. He then identified the driver as Ulrich Jr.
Police say Keller told police that Ulrich had texted him stating, “Somone [sic] just smashed into me… Badly… I was going home they cross the lane head on into me.”
Keller reportedly told investigators that Ulrich did not have a CDL and his operating privileges were suspended. He also reportedly said Ulrich fled the scene and was picked up by a person named “Nick.”
Police say they then contacted the owner of the trash truck who consented to a search of the vehicle. Troopers say they recovered weigh tickets from Berks Transfer Station signed by James Ulrich Jr., including one dated the day of this incident.
Surveillance video obtained from the transfer station showed Ulrich exiting the driver’s seat of the trash truck on Jan. 15 wearing an orange sweatshirt matching the description of the fleeing driver.
Police are charging Ulrich Jr. with felony counts of accidents involving personal injury, including one count for causing the crash without a valid license.
He’s also facing a misdemeanor count of causing an accident involving personal injury without possessing a valid driver’s license.
Numerous summary charges are also awaiting Ulrich Jr., including five counts of causing an accident involving damage to property and several counts involving his alleged fleeing the scene of the crash, and others.
Police noted that Keller will be charged with false reports to law enforcement and obstruction.
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