A Clarksburg man was arrested Sunday evening when he wrecked his ATV during a police pursuit that began in Loyalhanna Township, Westmoreland County, and ended in Conemaugh Township. A female passenger was injured in the crash.
38-year-old Jason Rittenour’s ATV collided with the state police cruiser as he tried to “squeeze past” Trooper Thomas Dohey, who had pulled alongside of him in an attempt to get him to stop.
The chase began at 6:45 PM when Dohey saw Rittenour operating his four-wheeler in an unsafe manner, crossing into the opposite lane of traffic near the intersection of Tunnelton Road and Route 981. The trooper activated his lights and siren but Rittenour sped away on Tunnelton Road, crossing the line into Indiana County. As they approached a narrow bridge abutment, Rittenour tried to beat the cruiser to the bridge but clipped it and the ATV rolled over. His passenger, who is not publicly identified, suffered a head laceration and was taken from the scene by ambulance.
Rittenour is charged with felony fleeing or eluding police, misdemeanor driving under the influence, and eight summary traffic violations. He was jailed at the Westmoreland County Prison Sunday night and released on $20,000 unsecured bond yesterday, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 9th.
