LANCASTER COUNTY — Police have charged a 28-year-old Lancaster man with driving under the influence, endangering the welfare of children, and a summary traffic offense after he allegedly handed a 3-month-old child in his care to a stranger after crashing his car on the 1300 block of Columbia Avenue Friday morning.
Emanuel Petrilli allegedly had the baby in his vehicle at the time of the crash, which occurred around 9:36 a.m., according to Manheim Township Police. Petrilli’s vehicle, which was traveling west on Columbia Avenue, allegedly struck a vehicle traveling in the opposite lane head-on, according to police.
Immediately after impact, police say, Petrilli handed the child to a person at the scene and walked off, going into a nearby Taco Bell restaurant. Witnesses say Petrilli claimed he was “going to get napkins from the bathroom,” police say.
Officers apprehended Petrilli as he was returning to the scene from the restaurant.
Petrilli was exhibiting signs of impairment, and admitted to being a methadone user, according to police. He was also driving without insurance on a suspended license, in a vehicle displaying the incorrect registration tag, police say.
He was arrested after police determined he was under the influence of drugs, according to police. He allegedly refused to submit to chemical testing.
