Nov 13, 2012 2 min read

A Canonsburg woman faces several charges including driving under the influence of a solvent or noxious substance stemming from a crash Sunday night on Route 19 near Mansfield Road, North Strabane Township.

North Strabane received a report about 8 p.m. from the 911 center of a Buick LeSabre with a Wyoming license plate that had just been involved in a hit-and-run crash in the parking lot of Trinity Point near Walmart, South Strabane, and was driving erratically north on Route 19.

Moments later, police said, Jamie Nicholle Gerecke, 24, of 132 Smithfield St., crossed into the southbound lanes of Route 19 and hit a tree.

Gerecke told North Strabane police Sgt. Bonnie Downing she crashed her car after dropping her cellphone. The 24-year-old was fumbling around and only able to produce a Wyoming identification card, police said.

Police said they found three cans of Ultra dusting spray inside the vehicle. One can was empty, a second was almost empty and a third was still full. Gerecke reportedly admitted to police and personnel at Canonsburg General Hospital she had been “huffing” the spray prior to the crash. Gerecke refused treatment for injuries, but she was still taken to the hospital.

One witness who followed Gerecke told police she almost hit two vehicles parked at the John Sisson Motors dealership. She also reportedly ran several red lights and drove on the median barrier, nearly crashing into oncoming vehicles. Police said the front grille and headlights fell off Gerecke’s car.

In addition to DUI, Gerecke will be charged with driving with a suspended license and not having insurance. The charges will be filed Tuesday at the office of District Judge Jay Weller and sent by summons.