A Schuylkill County man is accused of causing a vehicle crash and then fleeing the scene last year. The suspect was eventually identified by a witness but a phone he left in the vehicle he was driving allegedly had a photo of him and a woman on its home screen.
Last week, police in Shenandoah filed charges against Ronald Kennedy, 46, of Shenandoah, for his alleged role in the incident that occurred back in August.
Police say they were called to a scene of a crash at Main and Coal streets in Shenandoah shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 16 last year. There, the driver of a Honda Civic said he was at a stop light when a red Mustang approached from behind and struck the rear of his vehicle.
Following the collision, the Mustang – allegedly driven by Kennedy – traveled east down the wrong way on Coal St. The driver of the Honda followed the vehicle Kennedy was driving to S. Bower St., where it eventually parked in front of a residence.
Once the vehicle stopped, Kennedy – wearing a black face mask – exited the Mustang and ran toward a wooded area on S. Bower St.
Police say red paint transfer on the rear bumper of the Honda was consistent with the paint on the Mustang.
During an inventory search of the abandoned Mustang, police say they found a black face mask and a Samsung phone. Police say they looked at the phone’s home screen and on it was a photo of Kennedy with a woman.
About a half-hour after police were originally dispatched to the scene of the crash, a caller to Schuylkill County dispatchers reportedly phoned in to report their car – the red Mustang – had been stolen.
The caller reportedly told police that at about 5 p.m. that day, Kennedy had taken his keys and the car. While he’d previously been permitted to drive that Mustang, he reportedly wasn’t given permission on that day.
A few days later, on Aug. 19, the driver and passenger in the Civic arrived at Shenandoah’s police station to review photo lineups in an attempt to identify the driver of the Mustang that hit them.
Police say that while the driver could not positively identify Kennedy, the passenger did.
On Tuesday, police filed misdemeanor counts of accidents involving personal injury and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle as well as summary counts of driving on a suspended license and driving without a license against Kennedy.
Kennedy is due before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker on Feb. 5 to answer to these charges.
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 ...