Police say the Schuylkill County man behind the wheel in a vehicle crash along Gordon Nagle Trail in June was driving under the influence of a cocktail of drugs at the time.
Noah Shaak, 27, of Pottsville, has been charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, along with three misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, six counts of recklessly endangering another person, and six counts of simple assault.
A warrant has been issued for Shaak’s arrest.
Shaak, police say, had numerous drugs in his system at the time of the crash, including methamphetamine, methadone, and Xanax, when he caused a fiery head-on collision on the Gordon Nagle Trail in June that injured eight people.
According to court documents filed by police in Pottsville, the crash occurred on June 12, at about 6 p.m. in the 800 block of the Gordon Nagle Trail.
Investigators allege Shaak was driving a 2017 GMC Sierra northbound when his vehicle left its lane and crossed into the southbound lane. Police say the truck forced a southbound Chevrolet Malibu towing a trailer onto the shoulder. Shaak’s vehicle allegedly struck the trailer, causing severe damage, before continuing north in the southbound lane and striking a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee head-on.
Following the impact, the engine compartment of Shaak’s vehicle caught fire.
Police said the crash resulted in injuries to eight people. Six of the injured were occupants of Shaak’s truck, which only had five seating positions. Shaak and two of his passengers were airlifted to trauma centers, while the others were transported by ambulance.
According to court documents, a passenger in Shaak’s vehicle told police that Shaak had taken Xanax approximately 90 minutes before the crash. The passenger reportedly told police Shaak said the pills were in the center console.
The passenger described Shaak’s behavior leading up to the wreck as “falling asleep behind the wheel, having mood swings, and swerving in/out of lanes,” noting they did not feel he was capable of driving safely.
Police also interviewed the driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee on June 16. She told investigators she saw Shaak’s vehicle “fishtailing” at a high rate of speed before it struck her. She reported that immediately after the crash, Shaak attempted to blame her and claimed he had “hydroplaned,” despite the fact that it had not rained.
During the accident reconstruction, investigators observed a baggie of suspected marijuana in plain view on the rear seat of Shaak’s truck. A subsequent search warrant executed on the vehicle on June 17 allegedly recovered a navy Apple iPhone, an empty prescription bottle for methadone, and an empty prescription bottle for clonazepam from the center console.
Police say the bottles were prescribed to Shaak.
A blood draw performed on June 13 at Geisinger Medical Center was sent for analysis. Police say the results received on July 2 indicated Shaak’s blood contained multiple substances, including amphetamine, methamphetamine (80ng/ml), clonazepam, methadone, and Delta-9 THC.
In follow-up interviews conducted in November, police cataloged the extensive injuries sustained by the victims.
The front-seat passenger in Shaak’s vehicle suffered the most severe injuries, including a shattered left arm and leg, two broken ribs, and a punctured lung. Police say she now has permanent pins and rods in her limbs and requires a walker.
Other passengers in Shaak’s vehicle reported suffering multiple facial fractures, a concussion with brain trauma, and other broken bones. The driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee required surgery for a broken right ankle and received a staple in her head to close a laceration.
Shaak is charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, careless driving, reckless driving, and related traffic offenses.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...