YORK COUNTY, Pa. — A Hanover man was arrested for allegedly causing a crash on Saturday while under the influence of drugs, according to the Northern York County Regional Police Department.
Christopher Griffith, 39, is accused of using a needle to shoot up drugs, possibly a mix of heroin and fentanyl, while he was driving, causing a crash that injured two people, including an 11-year-old.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, the NYCRPD responded to a crash involving two vehicles, one of which was stolen, at the intersection of Moulstown Road and Trolley Road in Heidelberg Township, York County on Sept. 21. The victim driver told police that she was driving west on Moulstown Road around a sharp curve when a black PT Cruiser crossed the double yellow line and hit her car head-on, breaking her nose and her juvenile passenger's clavicle.
Witnesses informed police that the driver of the PT Cruiser had run from the scene of the crash and was in a field near Jacob's Mill Road, according to a criminal complaint. Officers located and arrested Griffith in the field, who claimed at the time that he was a passenger in the car when it crashed and the alleged driver had run further into the field.
Griffith seemed to be in a daze, spoke incoherently at times and showed signs of being under the influence of a mind-altering substance, police said. Law enforcement noted that while they were arresting Griffith, he doubled over and put his hands behind his back instead of kneeling and placing his hands on his head as instructed. Officers say Griffith twice gave his date of birth when asked for his last name and allegedly sprawled in the backseat of the patrol car and began to nod off.
Officers allege that when they searched Griffith, he said he often was in possession of needles and wasn't sure if he had any at the moment. Law enforcement did not find any needles on his person, but Griffith said he had a needle with heroin and fentanyl that would be in the backpack of the other person in the car.
Police apprehended the actual passenger of the stolen car in a cemetery north of the crash site. He did not have a backpack. According to an affidavit of probable cause, the passenger told police that he had run from the crash site because he had a warrant and that Griffith was shooting up drugs while driving.
Police allegedly located drug paraphernalia on the driver's side floor of the car. They also noted that there was blood on the driver's side airbag consistent with Griffith's injuries, and the passenger was not bleeding at all.
An ambulance took Griffith to the hospital for his injuries, which include wounds to his head and arms. According to a criminal complaint, Griffith became aggressive at the hospital and had to be physically restrained.
Griffith was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property, DUI: general impairment/incapable of driving safely - first offense, accidents involving death/personal injury, flight to avoid apprehension/trial/punishment, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, resist arrest/other law enforcement and obedience to traffic-control devices.
He remains in York County Prison, unable to post bail.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 14.
