Man jailed after collision sends four to hospital

September 11, 2013 at 9:21a.m.

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

A Poland man was arrested on charges of driving under the influence by Pennsylvania State Police at New Castle after they said he ran a stop sign and collided with a van, sending four people, including three children, to St. Elizabeth Health Center about 8:05 p.m. Tuesday.

A news release said that Travis James Panezich of East Calla Road was driving north on Stateline Road in North Beaver Township when he failed to stop at a stop sign at West Poland Road and collided with a van driven by 45-year-old Chad Hillard of East Poland Road in New Castle.

The van spun, rolled over and then struck a tree, reports said, before stopping in a nearby front yard. Hillard and three children, ages 5, 3 and six months, were taken to the hospital. A passenger, Courtney Hillard, 31, was treated for minor injuries, reports said. Panezich was taken to Jameson Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries to his hand and then placed in the Lawrence County jail for the charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, underage drinking, reckless driving and other traffic charges. He is expected to be arraigned today.